A mother and her new boyfriend have been convicted following the death her young son Kol Page after a Met Police investigation uncovered a raft of evidence to prove they brutally assaulted him.

Detectives saw through the lies told by Zoe Coutts and Scott O’Connor as they blamed the toddler’s horrific injuries on his ‘clumsiness’, before turning on each other in a final effort to avoid justice.

Two-year-old Kol was found by the London Ambulance Service on Monday, 25 April 2022 not breathing, with bruises over his face and a serious injury to his abdomen, caused by a stamp or punch.

While he survived, his injuries were so severe that doctors could not give him enough medication to take away his pain without risking causing his death.

He bravely lived on for two more years, before dying aged just four years and three months on Saturday, 29 June, 2024.

Met homicide detectives analysed thousands of messages between Kol’s family, CCTV of his killers’ movements and carried out extensive interviews to prove that the his injuries came about while he was in the care of Coutts and O’Connor.

The couple were convicted on Wednesday, 25 March at Southwark Crown Court following a four-week trial.

• Coutts, 35 (11.05.1990), of Crayford, was convicted of allowing the death of a child.
• O’Connor, 36 (02.02.1990),of Whinchat Road, Thamesmead, was convicted of manslaughter.

They were acquitted of murder and are due to be sentenced on Friday, 8 May.

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn, whose homicide team led the investigation, said: “Kol was an innocent little boy who suffered horrific abuse in the place where he should have been safest – at home with his mother.

“Coutts and her new boyfriend, O’Connor, tried to deceive paramedics, doctors and police officers, repeating lie after lie about how Kol came to be so seriously injured.

“It was the tireless work of detectives that exposed the couple’s lies, combing through months of messages, appalling pictures and CCTV evidence to uncover the sustained abuse suffered by that little boy.

“I want to thank the first responders who tried to help Kol in a case that has been particularly harrowing for all involved, especially the doctors and nurses who cared for him over such as sustained period of time and his foster carers who gave him immense compassion and safety.

“Kol was boisterous, cheeky and endlessly loving to everyone who knew him. He should have had a bright future, but was instead let down by those who should have protected him most. He will always be remembered.”

The Investigation

In the early hours of Sunday, 24 April 2022, the day before Kol died, Coutts and O’Connor returned home after spending the night out drinking.

Police were called by London Ambulance Service at 09:44hrs on Monday, 25 April, to Downham Way, Bromley, to reports of a child who was not breathing.

When paramedics arrived, they found Kol without a pulse and with significant bruising to his head and face.

They rushed him to hospital, where doctors found that he had serious internal injuries consistent with punching, kicking or stamping.

Kol was left with catastrophic brain damage and severe disabilities, meaning he needed round-the-clock care. He spent 14 months in hospital before moving to live with his devoted new foster family.

Two years later, on Saturday, 29 June, 2024, he died from his injuries.

O’Connor was arrested on Monday, 25 April 2022. In interview he claimed Kol’s horrific injuries were self-inflicted. He told police that the toddler was “very clumsy” and had fallen out of his cot and onto his toy bricks.

Coutts initially told paramedics Kol had fallen out of a highchair, but changed her account when police arrived. She told them that she had gone to get a snack and when she returned he was unconscious.

Following her arrest on Monday, 25 April 2022, she claimed that Kol was just “clumsy”, before alleging that O’Connor had sexually abused her child and that the injuries were entirely his doing.

In fact, the pair had ruthlessly beaten the child over several months, lying to family and friends that he was always “falling off things and bumping into things”.

Detectives analysed mobile phone data to prove that O’Connor was at the family home 28 times in the month prior to Kol’s death, staying overnight 16 times. This was despite Coutts living in accommodation that helped victims of domestic abuse and did not allow male visitors.

It was over this period that pictures of Kol showed he suffered bruising of escalating severity, as well as a series of black eyes and a bald patch on his head where his hair had been torn out.

The couple claimed this was caused by Kol gripping or pulling at his skin and hair, and falling out of his cot.

Doctors said his injuries were consistent with a slap or forceful grip, and the black eyes could only have come from a direct blows from an adult. The place where his hair was missing meant he could not have done it himself.

Coutts also cancelled visits from social services Kol at times where photos show he had significant bruising.

Messages between her and O’Connor showed them exchanging pictures of Kol’s injuries and joking about hurting him.

One message from O’Connor read: “Jesus slap him back to sleep lol”, while another added: “it’s the whining that drives me insane haha”.

After O’Connor left the family home for work on the morning of Monday, 25 April, they continued to message each other minutes before the ambulance was called.

These did not mention Kol – instead of his injuries, they discussed their hangovers and what they wanted to eat that evening.

Even when Coutts realised her son was not breathing, she chose to call a friend rather than the ambulance. Doctors believe that this time without oxygen meant Kol suffered such serious brain damage.

Tackling domestic abuse and safeguarding victims is a priority for the Met.

Coutts was first arrested on Monday, 25 April 2022, and was charged with grievous bodily harm and causing or allowing serious harm to a child on Friday, 22 July 2022. After Kol’s death, on Saturday, 29 June 2024, she was further arraigned at court for murder.

O’Connor was first arrested on Monday, 25 April 2022, and was charged with causing or allowing serious harm to a child on Friday, 22 July 2022. After Kol’s death, on Saturday, 29 June 2024, he was further arraigned at court for murder.