Jailed: Kodi James Maybir. Justice Hulme said the exact way the boy's fractured skull and bleeding to the brain - caused by blunt force trauma - occurred "remains unknown to all except for Mr Maybir". Maybir and the boy's mother Kayla​ James failed to seek medical attention until Levai was found dead the next morning. A post-mortem found dozens and dozens of both old and recent bruises, fractures, abrasions and scars on the boy's 20.5 kg body - the result of months of mistreatment and cruel physical punishments in the lead-up to his death. The Crown had called for a life sentence. Justice Hulme said Maybir remains "completely unrepentant with no acknowledgement of the enormity of his inhumane conduct".

Levai, 7, endured months of abuse before his murder. However, he found the case was not in the worst category of murder because there was no evidence of premeditation and sentenced him to a maximum of 38 years with a non-parole period of 28-and-a-half years for murder. Maybir was also sentenced for 10 additional offences for assaulting and abusing Levai in the four months leading up to his death, including the production of child abuse material. His total non-parole period is 31-and-a-half years. Kodi James Maybir: Guilty of murdering a seven-year-old boy. Maybir had subjected the youngster to repeated acts of violent abuse under the guise of "punishment" in accordance with a "bizarre" discipline regime inspired by religion and a movie about Spartan soldiers called 300.

Justice Hulme said Maybir "exhibited extreme religious views and parenting philosophies" and considered himself to be a saviour of single mothers. He referred to himself as being "the General of the Army of the Helpers" and said the army "carried out the will of God".



The abuse of Levai began when Maybir became involved with James, a single mother of three, in January 2013. At the time he was recording his album Invisible Road, and they immediately began a sexual relationship. He was also recording an artist called Subliminal, for an album called Resist The Dark Force. His record company "took a strong stance against the music industry ... opposing their ideals and how they push sex, drugs and alcohol in the form of music", he told his trial last year.



James has already been convicted and sentenced to at least 10½ years' jail for manslaughter by gross criminal negligence over the death of her son for failing to seek any medical assistance until after he was dead. Giving evidence at his trial in return for a reduction in her sentence, James said she had come under the influence of her partner's "bizarre" Christian philosophy, allowing him to punish her child violently and inflicting similar punishments herself. Her infatuation with and submission to Maybir was described as "cult-like". Prior to meeting him, the evidence showed she was a caring and diligent mother.



A number of the punishments are recorded on a mobile phone video, either by Maybir or James, including one incident in which the boy's siblings were ordered to take turns hitting him in the stomach and the face. On one occasion, Maybir incited Levai to insert his finger into his younger brother's anus as part of his attempt to convince James her children were being sexually abused by a male member of her family. The incident was recorded on video and Justice Hulme said it is obvious Levai had no idea of what Maybir was insinuating.



On other occasions Levai was also forced to run laps, crouch on the floor with his arms outstretched for hours on end, and repeatedly spanked, slapped and punched. He was often denied food and water, forced to sit outside in cold weather without warm clothing and on one occasion forced to eat his own faeces.

"He's always on that pogo stick," Maybir told police on May 21 after Levai's body had been taken away. "He just fell off ... hit the back of his head. "



Maybir subsequently pleaded guilty to manslaughter over the boy's death, but this plea was rejected by the Crown, which insisted he was guilty of murder. As the Defence did not tender any psychiatric evidence on sentencing, Justice Hulme said he had no insight into Maybir's "despicable" behaviour. Testimonials from 18 friends and family were tendered to the court, which variously described Maybir as "gentle, honest, sincere, peaceful and family-oriented". But his previous good character and limited criminal history could only mitigate his sentence by a modest amount, Justice Hulme said. Outside the court, the victim's maternal grandfather Michael James said: "I think the punishment is deserved but how can anyone do that to a child? Not just my grandson, but any child?"

Detective Chief Inspector Grant Taylor said investigators are relieved at the sentence. "This was a particular nasty case because of all the video and photographic evidence that depicted the deterioration of young Levai right up until his death," he said. "No homicide detective likes working on cases like this but when you live and breathe an investigation such as this from the beginning to the end, it's very rewarding to see justice prevail." Maybir nodded to two female supporters as he was taken down from the dock. Maybir will be eligible for parole in March 2045.