The police officer who led the investigation into Liam Fee’s death has said the two-year-old was subjected to “horrendous abuse” at the hands of his mother and her partner.
Detective Inspector Rory Hamilton praised the bravery of two other boys, whose evidence meant Liam’s mother, Rachel Trelfa or Fee, 31, and Nyomi Fee, 29, were convicted of the youngster’s murder.
The two women had blamed another child for killing two-year-old Liam, with Mr Hamilton, of Police Scotland’s major investigation team, stating: “Details of Liam’s murder and the abuse carried out by the two women emerged during the course of interviews with two other boys in their care.
“During joint interviews with specially-trained detectives and officials from Fife Council, the evidence began to build towards a picture of horrendous abuse which directly contributed to the version of events being put forward by the two accused being utterly discredited.
“This was a complex, challenging and sensitive investigation which involved interviewing two young children to establish the level of abuse and neglect both they and Liam Fee had been subjected to.
“It was because of their courage that detectives were able to identify Rachel and Nyomi Fee as being responsible for a wide range of serious offences against three children.”
Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham, lead officer for major crime and public protection, said: “Liam’s murder has had a profound effect on everyone involved in the investigation and our thoughts are with his wider family.
“The death of a child is always traumatic but the murder of a child has a terrible and lasting impact on the family, on the wider community and on the carers and professionals involved.”
