Marvyn Iheanacho, 39, (pictured) was originally jailed for 18 years but has had his sentence increased
A thug who beat his girlfriend’s five-year-old son to death in a park after the boy lost a trainer has had three years added to his 18-year sentence.
Marvyn Iheanacho, 39, watched proceedings via videolink from prison as Court of Appeal judges in London increased his life sentence for the murder of Alex Malcolm.
Lord Justice Treacy, Mr Justice Jay and Mr Justice Warby agreed with Solicitor General Robert Buckland that 18 years was ‘unduly lenient’, and did not adequately reflect the ‘serious aggravating features’ of the case.
Iheanacho, from Hounslow, west London, had denied murdering Alex, the son of his then partner Liliya Breha, but was convicted in July after a trial at Woolwich Crown Court and jailed for life.
Witnesses heard a child’s fearful voice saying ‘sorry’, loud banging and a man screaming about the loss of a shoe during the attack in Mountsfield Park in Catford, south-east London, the trial heard.
Alex suffered head and stomach injuries and died in hospital two days after the attack in November last year. One of his trainers was later found in the play area by police.
Iheanacho has a string of previous convictions for violent offences, including attacks on ex-partners and robbery.
Increasing the minimum term to 21 years, Lord Justice Treacy said: ‘In our judgment the minimum term of 18 years did not adequately reflect the serious aggravating features of this case, which relate not only to the offence itself but also to the offender’s past violent criminal conduct.’
Liliya Breha (pictured with her son Alex) was dating Iheanacho when he beat the youngster to death
Witnesses heard a child’s fearful voice saying ‘sorry’, loud banging and a man screaming about the loss of a shoe
His previous convictions showed he had a ‘deeply entrenched streak of violence within him’.
Lord Justice Treacy said Iheanacho had attacked a vulnerable young child when he was in a position of trust, and did not get medical assistance for Alex ‘when it was clear he required urgent care’.
The minimum term is the least time an offender has to serve behind bars before becoming eligible to apply for parole – because of time served on remand Iheanacho will have to serve at least 20 years and 119 days.
Iheanacho (pictured) from Hounslow, west London, had denied murdering Alex before his trial