Murder police quiz man over death of boy, 2

Rio Smedley was rushed to hospital from his house in Bolton, Greater Manchester, on Sunday evening as his pregnant mother Kirsty screamed in anguish.

Rio, who had a four-year-old sister, Ella, was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital believing he he had suffered a cardiac arrest and he was pronounced dead later that evening.

Yesterday, police said a post-mortem examination found he had died of abdominal injuries.

A police spokesman said the 22-year-old man arrested on suspicion of the boy’s murder remains in custody for questioning.

The toddler’s family, in a statement released last night by police, said: “He will be greatly missed and the family now ask for some peace during this hard time.”