Killer dad, 26, who repeatedly bashed his four-month-old son to ‘toughen him up’ before shaking him so violently he died will be released from prison after just two years
- Ry Liam Smith has had his parole date changed after the death of his toddler son
- Smith pleaded guilty to the child’s 2013 death after he shook the boy violently
- He was initially given court order to serve at least 80% of his sentence
- Smith, who said he enjoyed hearing his son cry, is now eligible for parole in 2020
A father whose son died after he shook him violently and refused to let his mother take him to hospital will be released from prison after just two years, despite being jailed for nine.
Ry Liam Smith, 26, was jailed in January 2018 for the manslaughter of four-month-old Lennoxx Eddy, who died in August 2013 in Maryborough, Queensland.
Smith, then 21, had violently shaken the child and refused to let his mother seek immediate medical treatment.
Queensland man Ry Liam Smith, who fatally shook his baby son, has successfully appealed for an earlier parole date in March 2020 (stock photo)
The Court of Appeal set aside the declaration of a serious violent offence, which means no Smith no longer has to serve 80 per cent of his nine-year sentence.
The court has now recommended an earlier parole date of March 2020.
Smith was initially charged with murder but instead pleaded guilty to the charges of manslaughter and failing to seek medical help, the Fraser Coast Chronicle reported.
During the trial, prosecutor Nathan Crane said Smith had beat the child repeatedly in the weeks before his death in a bid to ‘toughen him up’.
‘Some examples of that physical conduct including slapping him on the cheek in quick succession, headbutting him to the forehead, he would pinch the nose of the child causing physical bruises,’ he said.
‘He was asked on one occasion why he was pinching his nose and he said “I like hearing him cry”. He would punch him in the stomach, he would rub his beard on Lennoxx’s face.’
The Court of Appeal set aside the declaration of a serious violent offence, which meant Smith would have had to serve 80 per cent of the sentence when granting the early parole date
On the day of the boy’s death the court heard Smith was ‘irritable’ and took Lennoxx out for a walk.
After being out for an hour his partner Lilly Eddy became concerned and went out looking for the pair, who she found only a couple of blocks away.
When she found Lennoxx the court heard he had bruises on his forehead.
The child was taken to hospital but later died.
Paediatrician Dr Catherine Skellern told the court that the brain and spinal injuries Lennoxx suffered were consistent with shaking.