Teenage Abuser Receives 16-Year Sentence for Killing Unborn Child
A domestic abuser who killed his unborn baby during a prolonged and brutal assault on his pregnant teenage partner has been handed a 16-year prison sentence. Stefan Marin, aged 19, was convicted on the rare charge of child destruction following the horrific incident that took place in Hull last March.
Details of the Harrowing Assault
The court heard that Marin launched a five-hour attack on his then-partner, who was 17 years old and 29 weeks pregnant at the time. After returning from birthday drinks at a pub, he subjected her to a sustained assault involving punching, kicking, strangulation, and scalding. Throughout the ordeal, Marin chillingly told his victim: ‘I’m making sure you do not have that baby.’
The young woman, who has since turned 18, delivered an emotional victim impact statement during the sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court. She described how she begged for her unborn son’s life during the prolonged attack at Marin’s flat. ‘You beat me to the point that I can’t believe I’m alive. To be able to even stand here feels like a miracle. I thought I was going to die that night,’ she told the court.
Severe Injuries and Lasting Trauma
The victim detailed the extensive physical and psychological scars she continues to endure. She suffers from persistent pains in her hands, arms, and head, experiences memory problems, and has hearing loss in one ear due to a perforated eardrum. She may also require surgery on her jaw as a result of the assault.
Perhaps most heartbreakingly, she addressed Marin directly: ‘I can heal from the bruises and the abuse, but what I will never heal from is what you did to my son… my unborn defenceless son who had done nothing to you. It makes me feel sick even just looking at you.’
Rare Legal Conviction
Marin was found guilty of multiple charges including child destruction, causing grievous bodily harm, strangulation, false imprisonment, and perverting the course of justice following a trial last October. The conviction for child destruction represents only the fourth such conviction obtained by the Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales over the past decade.
Mr Justice Goss sentenced Marin to 16 years in prison with an extended licence period of four years. The court heard that the baby died in the womb as a result of trauma to the placenta and was delivered several days later when labour was induced.
Background of Abuse and Control
The relationship between Marin and his victim began in August 2024, with the pregnancy occurring soon afterward. While Marin initially expressed pleasure upon learning the baby was a boy, tensions developed throughout the pregnancy. The court heard that Marin had been controlling and abusive throughout their relationship, trapping his partner in what prosecutors described as a ‘manipulative’ dynamic.
In mitigation, the court was told that Marin had experienced a ‘difficult’ upbringing and had previously been assessed as a victim of modern slavery after being forced to sell drugs. However, this did not diminish the severity of his actions.
Official Responses to the Case
Edmund Hall, senior Crown prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire & Humberside, stated: ‘This was an appalling case in which an abusive partner carried out an unprovoked attack on his young girlfriend and their unborn child. The victim in this case has shown immense courage throughout the prosecution process in the face of unimaginable loss and trauma.’
Detective Chief Inspector Jon Cross of Humberside Police added: ‘The level of violence inflicted on this young woman was beyond comprehension, and the tragic loss of her unborn son is something no one should ever have to endure. Marin’s actions were calculated and utterly inhumane. He showed no remorse at any stage of the investigation or court proceedings.’
The case highlights the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the particular vulnerability of pregnant women in abusive relationships. It also underscores the legal complexities surrounding crimes against unborn children in the UK justice system.
