SYSA JAMES OUDOMVILAY FROM DAUBHILL SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR BRUTAL MURDER OF BABY DAUGHTER IN MANCHESTER

In a tragic and disturbing case that has shocked the community of Daubhill and the wider Manchester area, Sysa James Oudomvilay, aged 21, was sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to the heinous murder of his 19-month-old daughter, Demi. The heartbreaking incident unfolded in September of the previous year, culminating in a court hearing at Manchester Crown Court where Oudomvilay, who had initially denied the charges, changed his plea at the last moment to admit his guilt.

Details of the case reveal that Oudomvilay’s actions led to the child's death due to severe head injuries, specifically two fractures to her skull, which were consistent with a violent assault. Demi was taken to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital in Pendlebury, where she succumbed to her injuries. The court was informed that both Oudomvilay and the child's mother, Bernadette, had prior convictions related to neglect, notably when they were caught meddling with cars during the night, indicating a troubling pattern of behavior.

Prosecutor John Rowe QC explained that Oudomvilay was responsible for caring for Demi while Bernadette visited her own father, John Bolton. On the day of the incident, Oudomvilay arrived at Mr. Bolton’s residence and reported that Demi was unresponsive. Despite her still breathing, she was rushed to Bolton Royal Infirmary, then transferred to Hope Hospital, where her injuries were confirmed. Subsequently, she was moved to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, where she tragically died.

The court heard that Oudomvilay had provided three different explanations for how Demi sustained her injuries. Initially, he claimed that the child had fallen from a chest of drawers in her bedroom. He later changed his account, asserting that she had fallen down the stairs. During a covert police recording of a conversation with Bernadette, he also stated that the child had been hit by a door as he rushed into a room, believing a dog was about to attack her. However, pathologist William Lawler testified that none of these explanations matched the nature of her injuries, indicating that the injuries were inflicted through violence.

During the hearing, Oudomvilay’s defense lawyer, David Turner, described his client as “inadequate to deal with the heavy responsibility of being a parent” and emphasized his difficulty in confronting the reality of his actions. Turner stated that Oudomvilay’s greatest punishment was the fact that he had taken the life of a daughter he loved.

Judge Rhys Davies addressed the court, condemning the actions that led to Demi’s death. He remarked that such acts would evoke revulsion in any decent person but acknowledged Oudomvilay’s youth and his guilty plea, which would be taken into account during sentencing. Ultimately, Oudomvilay was sentenced to life imprisonment, marking a tragic chapter in the community of Daubhill and Manchester’s criminal history.