Mother sentenced for campaign of cruelty against three-year-old son she murdered

Christina Robinson, 30, has been sentenced for the murder of her three-year-old son, Dwelaniyah, after a harrowing trial that revealed a prolonged campaign of cruelty and violence. Robinson, a member of the Black Hebrew Israelite religion, inflicted severe physical abuse on her son, ultimately leading to his death in November 2022, as reported by BBC News.

Robinson’s abusive actions were both severe and sustained. She admitted to beating Dwelaniyah with a bamboo cane, claiming she was following a Bible scripture that advocated using the rod for the correction of children. However, her interpretation of this scripture led to extreme and inhumane punishment. The court at Newcastle Crown Court heard that Robinson had deliberately immersed her son in scalding water, causing severe burns. Despite the agony he must have experienced, she did not seek medical help, fearing that the injuries would raise safeguarding concerns if seen by a health worker.

The tragic events culminated on November 5, 2022, when Robinson inflicted a fatal brain injury on Dwelaniyah. Instead of immediately seeking help, she spent over 20 minutes consulting her husband, who was 240 miles away serving with the RAF and searching Google for child resuscitation techniques. When emergency services arrived, Robinson maintained a calm demeanor and presented a false version of events to the police while paramedics worked desperately to save her son. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, Dwelaniyah could not be saved.

A post-mortem examination revealed a horrifying pattern of abuse. Dwelaniyah had been subjected to a series of assaults over time, sustaining numerous non-accidental injuries. Prosecutor Richard Wright KC emphasized that these injuries were not isolated incidents but part of a sustained campaign of violence. “Somebody had been deliberately hurting this little boy and had been doing so over a period of time. That person was his mother, the defendant Christina Robinson,” Wright stated in his closing speech.

Robinson was convicted of murder and four child cruelty charges. Additionally, she was found guilty of child neglect for leaving Dwelaniyah home alone while she pursued an affair behind her husband’s back. The jury’s verdict reflected the gravity of her actions and the premeditated nature of the abuse.

Sentencing was delayed by Mr. Justice Garnham to allow Robinson time to seek new legal representation after she parted ways with her defense team just before the trial concluded. In March, Robinson was convicted, but the final sentencing took place later to ensure proper legal proceedings.

The case has drawn significant attention due to the severe nature of the abuse and the tragic loss of such a young life. It underscores the importance of vigilant safeguarding and the need for community and legal systems to protect vulnerable children. Robinson’s actions, justified in her mind by a misinterpretation of religious texts, led to unimaginable suffering and the death of her son.

The sentencing of Christina Robinson serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of unchecked abuse and the critical need for intervention when signs of child maltreatment are present. It also highlights the responsibilities of parents and guardians to protect and nurture their children, rather than subjecting them to violence and cruelty. The tragic death of Dwelaniyah remains a stark and sorrowful example of the worst outcomes of parental abuse.