Joshua’s death would have been ‘preventable’ if medical attention was sought earlier
Tamara and Damion Thomas, the parents of Joshua
Police have issued mugshots of a Birmingham couple after the unlawful killing of their seriously ill son.
Joshua Thomas collapsed at his home in Yarningale Road, Kings Heath on December 9, 2022, and died at Birmingham Children’s Hospital the following morning.
His mum Tamara Thomas was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter as evidence showed the 12-year-old would have survived if medical attention had been sought earlier.
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Joshua had displayed symptoms of severe diabetic ketoacidosis which “should have been noticeable for several hours leading up to his death,” West Midlands Police said.
His parents noticed he was ill, but Tamara Thomas only called 999 some hours later after noticing his lips had turned white.
Her husband Damion was found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter, but was convicted of child cruelty.
Both parents were also found guilty of neglect relating to another child.
Lead investigator Vicki Harris said: “Both parents were aware of the signs and symptoms of diabetes and expert medical evidence showed their son’s death would have been preventable if medical attention had been sought earlier.
“This has been an emotive investigation for everyone involved and this verdict is the result of more than three years work safeguarding other children and examining complex medical evidence.”
Both Tamara and Damion Thomas will be sentenced in June this year.
