A 21-year-old Dubbo man has been found guilty of murdering a toddler in a Dubbo unit last year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Matthew Allen James Dennis was charged with murdering the 23-month-old boy, who can not be named for legal reasons, on March 21, 2008.
During Dennis's trial the court heard the child had suffered serious head injuries, which led to his death.
Among them were a fractured skull, swelling on the brain and serious bruising to areas of his head and face.
Dennis’s defence claimed the child had sustained the injuries after falling in the shower.
After more than three days deliberating the case the jury returned the guilty verdict about 2pm today.
Members of the gallery wept as the verdict was read.
A visibly upset Dennis hung his head before being led away from the dock.
The verdict came two and a half hours after the jury was instructed by Acting Justice Graham Barr that he would accept a majority verdict.
Dennis will be sentenced in Sydney on November 27.
The father of the murdered child spoke to the media after the verdict was read, saying: "I'm pretty happy to let him (the child) lay to rest now knowing the facts and that he (Dennis) has been put away for what he did."
***
For full coverage of and reaction to the verdict see tomorrow's Daily Liberal.