A TEEN who battered a two-year-old girl to death because he was “fed up” of babysitting has been freed from jail.
Karl McCluney kicked, punched and bit Demi Leigh Mahon at a house in Salford, Greater Manchester, on his 15th birthday.
Demi Leigh Mahon was battered to death by her babysitter[/caption]
The tragic youngster was left with 68 injuries and spent two days on life support before she died.
McCluney was jailed for 15 years for murder in 2009 following the “savage” attack.
But the killer – now aged 31 – has now been freed from jail following a two-day parole hearing, MEN reports.
His sentence expired in April 2024 but McCluney had to give evidence along with two psychologists, a psychiatrist and two social workers.
In its summary, the Parole Board found he “held extreme shame and daily remorse for the devastating impact his actions continued to have on family members”.
Ruling he could be released, the panel said it was “satisfied that imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public”.
McCluney will be subject to a number of licencing conditions, including living at a “designated” address, abiding by a curfew and exclusion zone to prevent contact with Demi Leigh’s family.
The horror unfolded in July 2008 when the killer was left in charge of Demi Leigh for 90 minutes while her mum popped out.
The toddler was beaten, bitten and had her hair sheared off during the brutal attack.
Demi Leigh was left with brain damage after being punched repeatedly in the face by McCluney.
When her mum Anna Marie McDonald returned home, she screamed at McCluney to ask why he had not called an ambulance.
He calmly replied: “I never done nothing, I’ve not done nothing.”
Demi Leigh was rushed to hospital but she tragically could not be saved.
McCluney initially claimed the youngster had fallen over in a park and hurt herself but her injuries revealed the horrific truth.
He never explained his actions, apart from alluding to the fact that Demi Leigh’s behaviour was annoying him.
But sentencing the fiend, Mr Justice Sweeney said he was “fed up” at having to babysit on his 15th birthday.
He continued: “At the flat, Demi Leigh was crying and you became angry with her. Unsurprisingly, given your anger, she cried more.
“You got angrier and angrier until you lost your temper altogether. You then, over a period, according to you, of about 10 minutes, you hit her many times.
“You were large and powerful, she was only a small child and stood no chance against your onslaught.”
Karl McCluney was jailed for murder but has been released[/caption]
Demi Leigh suffered 68 injuries including brain damage[/caption]