QUESTIONS are to be asked about how a two-year-old child came to be murdered by his mother’s partner.

Joseph Eke, 22, was found guilty of murdering Harry House last week following a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

The jury was told of a ‘pattern of abuse’ leading up to the toddler’s murder.

Eke is due to return to Winchester Crown Court on Monday, June 5 for sentencing.

But local authorities have launched a serious case review, to examine how Harry’s death came about, and what can be learned.

In a statement, Sarah Elliott, independent chair of the Dorset Safeguarding Children Board, said: “Now the trial has come to an end, the local agencies will carry out a serious case review to see what can be learnt from this tragic event to help safeguard children in the future.

“It would not be right to make any further comment until the review has been completed.”

During the trial, a number of witnesses told the jury that they had considered contacting authorities over Harry’s wellbeing, including the grandmother of Harry’s mother Lauren O’Neill.

A post-mortem examination found Harry died of blunt force trauma, by being punched or kicked in the stomach with such force that his pancreas split in two.