Tragic family's hope for Kyle

The heartbroken family of baby Kyle Keen who was shaken to death by his stepfather say their "little soldier" can finally rest in peace after his killer was jailed for six and a half years.

Kyle's natural father Robert Keen said he was satisfied with yesterday's sentence passed on Tyrone Matthews and his priority now is to concentrate on looking after Kyle's older sister Larissa, aged four, who still questions where her brother is. Kyle died, aged 16 months, after suffering a brain injury described by medical experts as "shaken baby syndrome."

Matthews claimed he had been play fighting with Kyle at their flat in Walsall when the baby suddenly became "limp and floppy."

He moved in with the two children in March 2006 just a week after meeting their mother Kerry Mcintosh – a situation police believe he struggled to come to terms with.

Just a month earlier she had split up with their natural father Robert Keen and he had moved out of the family home in Hatherton Street.

On June 29, 2006 Kyle was taken to Walsall Manor Hospital and was transferred a day later to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent where he died.

In a police interview Matthews, now of Dale Street, Palfrey, admitted shaking Kyle on two occasions and in the weeks leading up to Kyle's death his natural father and grandmother had noticed bruises on his body.

Speaking after the sentence at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday, Mr Keen said: "We are satisfied that the people responsible have been brought to justice.

"We all miss our little soldier and we are glad this is finally over and Kyle can rest in peace."

Detective Inspector Peter Rowe, of the child abuse team, said: "Matthews came across as a genuine individual who suddenly found himself caring for two children and couldn't cope."

Matthews denied murder but admitted manslaugher and child cruelty while McIntosh admitted cruelty by neglect and was given a six month suspended sentence and two year supervision order.