CHEVAZE MCGREGOR AND SINDYANN REGIS BRUTALITY IN WEDNESFIELD LEADS TO CHILD'S TRAGIC DEATH

In June 2017, a heartbreaking case unfolded in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, where the life of a two-year-old boy named Jeremiah Regis-Ngaujah was tragically cut short due to severe and sustained abuse inflicted by his mother’s partner, Chevaze Sanchez McGregor. The court heard that McGregor, aged 27 at the time, subjected Jeremiah to a relentless series of injuries over several months, culminating in a fatal blow that caused his intestines to rupture, ultimately leading to his agonizing death just 24 hours later.

Chevaze McGregor, who held the belief that physical pain could serve as a form of discipline to teach children right from wrong, repeatedly assaulted the young boy. The court was told that Jeremiah, who was born in Queen’s Hospital in Romford, Essex, in February 2014, endured over 100 separate injuries during the period of abuse. These injuries included fractures, bruises, and a distinctive adult-sized bite mark on his chest, which raised immediate suspicion among medical professionals. The injuries were inflicted at Jeremiah’s home in Wednesfield, a suburb of Wolverhampton, where McGregor resided with the boy’s mother, Sindyann Regis.

Prosecutor Sally Howes QC detailed that McGregor used his fists, a rod, and a belt to physically punish Jeremiah. The court heard that McGregor believed that inflicting pain was a necessary part of discipline, citing a letter he produced in police interviews that read, “Sindyann does not discipline him so it must be me. The job of the parent is to correct. God gave us pain so we know to do the right thing.” Despite claiming not to remember hitting Jeremiah around the head, McGregor admitted to the authorities that he believed his actions were justified as discipline.

On the day of Jeremiah’s death, McGregor carried the boy’s lifeless body to an ambulance after what was described as a brutal assault. Jeremiah was pronounced dead at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton in the early hours of November 21, 2016. The court was shown evidence of the extensive injuries Jeremiah had suffered, including multiple rib fractures, bruising, brain injury, and a bite mark, all indicative of a sustained pattern of violence. Witnesses and police interviews revealed that McGregor’s partner, Sindyann Regis, was present during some of the abuse. Initially, she claimed ignorance of the extent of the violence but later admitted to seeing McGregor holding Jeremiah off the floor after hearing loud banging noises from a bedroom.

During sentencing, Mr. Justice Morris described Jeremiah’s death as the result of multiple organ failure caused by blunt force trauma to his abdomen, which led to septic shock. The judge expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of such a young life, emphasizing the horror of a defenseless child suffering at the hands of an adult entrusted with his care. He condemned McGregor’s actions, stating, “It is hard to imagine the pain inflicted upon such a defenceless child of two years of age. The death of a child is always tragic and shocking – the thoughts of a life not lived stay with us all.”

He further criticized McGregor’s justification based on religious beliefs, asserting that such beliefs did not excuse the extreme and repeated physical assaults. The judge highlighted that McGregor’s abuse went far beyond lawful discipline, describing his behavior as callous and brutal. Jeremiah’s father, Sahr Ngaujah, was present in court and expressed his grief through a statement read aloud, describing Jeremiah as a happy, cheerful boy with an infectious smile who loved to laugh, sing, and dance. Ngaujah conveyed his heartbreak over losing his son and the dreams he had for Jeremiah’s future, emphasizing the profound impact of his death.

In connection with the case, McGregor was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years. The court also heard that Jeremiah’s mother, Sindyann Regis, had already pleaded guilty to allowing her son’s death, and both are awaiting sentencing. Detective Inspector Warren Hines from the homicide team described the case as a horrifying example of child abuse, condemning McGregor’s controlling and violent nature. He stated that the evidence indicated Jeremiah had tried to defend himself, as shown by defensive wounds on his hands and arms, but was ultimately overwhelmed by the brutality inflicted upon him. The investigation revealed that the fatal assault was believed to have occurred a few days before Jeremiah’s death, leaving him in agonizing pain until he succumbed to his injuries, which included peritonitis caused by blunt force trauma to his abdomen.