Marvyn Iheanacho, 39, was jailed for life for brutally murdering Alex Malcolm
A grieving mother has called for easier access to partners’ criminal records after her boyfriend savagely beat her five-year-old son to death.
Marvyn Iheanacho, 39, was jailed for life in July for brutally murdering Alex Malcolm after flying into a rage when the youngster lost his shoe.
The five-year-old’s head, neck, and body were covered with bruises after the attack on November 20 last year.
Iheanacho had so many previous convictions – including six for domestic abuse after attacking five partners and a child – that it took prosecutors 15 minutes to read them out in court.
Now Alex’s mother Liliya Breha, 30, has called for better access to abusive partners’ criminal history.
Ms Breha had no idea about Iheanacho’s past when she allowed him into her home and left him alone with her son.
Ms Breha, who is originally from the Ukraine but now living in south London, was not aware of Clare’s Law, which allows people to ask the police for information about a person’s criminal convictions.
As the first anniversary of her son’s death approaches, Ms Breha wants to use her experience to spare other parents similar pain and ensure Alex’s death was not in vain.
Liliya Breha, 30, (pictured with Alex), has called for better access to abusive partners’ criminal history
She said: ‘If people come from a different country, like me, they may not know about Clare’s Law. More people need to be aware of how to run a background check.
‘I’d like to see harsher punishments for this sort of thing too. Marvyn had so many convictions – he clearly wasn’t learning his lesson.
‘I’m hoping to work with other bereaved mothers to let them know that I understand their pain, and they aren’t alone.’
Ms Breha gave birth to Alex in April 2011 at St Thomas’ hospital in London. In 2014 split with his father Leroy Malcolm, after seven years together.
In early 2016, Liliya was introduced to Iheanacho through a mutual friend.
He had been recently released from prison but convinced her he was innocent and keen to start a new life.
She added: ‘He never went into specifics about what he’d been accused of, just telling me he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
‘I was never told it was actually for assaulting a girlfriend. He got a job, and was working really hard. He seemed determined to get his life back on track.
‘I was cautious because of Alex, but I met a lot of his closest friends, most of whom had children too. I figured if they trusted him around their kids, so could I.
‘He was a really good liar. He hid his true personality so well that people he’d known for years didn’t even realise.
‘He always seemed mature. If we ever fell out, he wouldn’t shout. He’d just say, ‘Let’s sit down and talk about this like adults.’
Eventually, feeling comfortable enough to introduce Alex and Iheanacho, Ms Breha said they got on well and enjoyed playing football and reading together.
But her world came crashing down in November last year when Iheanacho went to the shops and offered to take Alex with him.
The young mum agreed but told them not to be long as Alex had school the next day and had homework to do.
Alex’s head, neck, and body were covered with bruises after the attack on November 20 last year
Jurors heard Alex said, ‘I’m sorry,’ as he was beaten to death by Iheanacho in London
‘I called to ask where they were, and Marvyn said they were in the park, because Alex had lost a shoe. He sounded calm, but I panicked, because I wasn’t sure why they were in there,’ she recalled.
‘I told him to come home and asked to speak to Alex, but the line went dead.
‘A little while later, he called back asking me to come outside. He was standing there with Alex limp in his arms.
‘I screamed at him, asking what he’d done but he wouldn’t give me a straight answer.’
She tried to dial 999 but Iheanacho attacked her, kneeing her in the chest and trying to choke her.
She added: ‘I thought he was going to kill me. I tried to look at Alex, so he was what I saw in my last few moments.
‘I could feel myself losing consciousness, but then he suddenly got off me.’
She eventually managed to phone the emergency services and was taken to Lewisham Hospital in south London.
Alex sustained a serious brain injury and was taken to King’s College Hospital, where his life support machine was switched off two days later.
On a trip to the park on November 20 last year, the jobless father-of-three lost his temper when his new partner’s son lost this trainer
Ms Breha, who is originally from the Ukraine but now living in south London, was not aware of Clare’s Law, which allows people to ask the police for information about a person’s criminal convictions
‘Even if he’d woken up, doctors said he’d never have walked or talked again. When the life support machine was switched off, my world ended,’ said Ms Breha.
‘I put my head on Alex’s chest and listened to his heart stopping.’
In July 2017, Iheanacho appeared at Woolwich Crown Court where, after a two-week trial, he was found guilty of murder.
Jurors heard how, after Alex had lost a shoe, Iheanacho flew into an incontrollable rage.
Witnesses said they had heard booming noises so loud they thought adult men were fighting.
Alex was also heard saying, ‘I’m sorry,’ as he was beaten to death.
Investigating officers presented a diary of Iheanacho’s they had found, in which he confessed to beating Alex after he had been sick in a cab – something Ms Breha knew nothing about.
‘I was horrified. What else had this man been doing to my son behind my back?’ she said. ‘Looking back, I think Marvyn was jealous of my bond with Alex.’
The red jacket and shoes worn by Alex on the day he was subjected to an attack that led to his death
Ms Breha said: ‘My heart is absolutely broken. I’m serving a life sentence of my own, but I will have to learn to live with the pain’
Now she is hoping to become a peer support worker for other bereaved mothers.
Paying tribute to the son she described as her ‘best friend,’ she said: ‘Alex was small, but he gave me my strength. He was so calm and gentle.
‘He’d always pick me flowers, and say ‘dadzu’ – our word for love you. He loved animals and learning. He’d teach me dances to his favourite songs and every birthday, we’d go to London Aquarium – his favourite place.
‘Without him, my life is silent.
‘Alex was shy, but very inquisitive. He’d always want to touch everything, and loved helping round the house.
‘He’d splash all the suds around in the sink and pretend to wash up.
‘Once he started school, he had friends in every year. He even made friends with an older boy because they both had long hair.
‘Alex’s hair was his pride and joy. I loved styling it into braids for him. He could’ve been a model. He could’ve been anything he wanted to be – he had so much potential.’
She added: ‘My heart is absolutely broken. I’m serving a life sentence of my own, but I will have to learn to live with the pain.’