A CHILD murderer who killed his stepson for losing a shoe should not have been free at the time, the probation service told an inquest.
Marvyn Iheanacho, 41, who had previous convictions for beating children and women, was living at his sister’s address when he killed five-year-old Alex Malcolm in 2016.
An inquest at Southwark Coroner’s Court heard the murder “should never have happened.”
Hounslow, Kingston and Richmond probation, supervising Iheanacho then, admitted he was meant to be in secure accommodation but there was a shortage.
James Jolly, head of the service, told Southwark coroner’s court: “We should have referred to a higher risk premises.”
Iheanacho was found guilty of murdering Alex and jailed for life in July 2017. His minimum tariff of 18 years was increased by the Court of Appeal to 21.
He had known Alex’s mother Lilya Breha for less than a year before he killed the boy.
The couple started seeing each other while Iheanacho was in jail for another assault on a woman.
The murder happened after Alex lost his shoe while chasing foxes at dusk. Iheanacho was heard to say: “You are f***ing joking.”
He then started punching Alex against a metal fence with such sickening force that a witness thought she could hear ‘sparring’.
Alex repeatedly sobbed ‘I’m sorry’ but Iheanacho did not stop punching him until the boy was unconscious.
Iheanacho then carried his limp body through Catford to a taxi stand where he took a cab back home, despite Lewisham Hospital being just minutes away.
After carrying the lifeless boy home, Iheanacho attacked Alex’s mum Lilya Breha to stop her calling an ambulance, and shouted: “Keep your f***ing mouth shut.”
Paramedics were eventually called out to Miss Breha’s Bromley home at 20:30 and Alex was rushed to Lewisham Hospital.
A post-mortem revealed 22 separate areas of bruising and an internal abdominal impact injury.
The jury inquest, which will decide on whether systemic failures were also to blame for Alex’ death, continues.
