DEAN HARRIS SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS FOR CHILD MURDER IN PETERBOROUGH

In August 2014, Dean Harris, aged 20, was sentenced to a minimum of 17 years in prison after being convicted of the murder of Amina Agboola, a two-year-old girl. The tragic incident occurred in Yaxley, near Peterborough, at her home on Scott Drive. Prosecutors explained that Harris, who had been in a relationship with Amina's mother for only five months, became overwhelmed with frustration when Amina soiled herself. During the trial at Cambridge Crown Court, jurors heard that Harris kicked Amina so forcefully that she was thrown six feet across the room. The impact was so severe that it caused her liver to tear in two, and paramedics described finding her lying "like a rag doll." The investigation revealed she had sustained multiple injuries, including an untreated broken wrist, and a history of domestic violence warnings had been issued about Harris, who was considered dangerous by social workers. Despite these warnings, he was left alone with Amina. Sarah Racqueman, aged 29, Harris’s partner and Amina’s mother, was cleared of causing or permitting her daughter’s death but admitted to two charges of neglect involving other children. She received a suspended sentence earlier that month. Reflecting on the tragedy, Amina's father, Reuben Agboola, expressed his grief: "I am pleased with the sentence Dean Harris has received today. However, the grief feels like it has no end. I think about Amina constantly. I still cry every day. I go through the motions of living but inside I am somewhere else thinking about my daughter all the time. No one understands the pain except those people who are experiencing it. My heart reaches out to every parent on earth who is suffering the loss of a child." Detective Inspector Alan Page condemned the violence, stating, "This was a horrendous case. There can be no justification for using violence against any child, and Harris will have to deal with the consequences of his actions for the rest of his life. While no sentence can ease the pain felt by Amina’s family, hopefully they will now be able to start moving on with their lives." Prior to his sentencing, Harris had initially denied murder but later admitted manslaughter, claiming he lost his temper. He described hitting Amina after she kept soiling herself and expressed remorse during his trial. The court also reviewed that Harris's partner, Racqueman, had ignored repeated warnings about Harris’s dangerous tendencies and history of abuse. Judge Lurcraft QC imposed the life sentence with a minimum of 17 years, with Harris set to be eligible for parole after that period.