Mum guilty of murdering son, 4

A woman who subjected her children to "systematic dehumanisation" through beatings has been found guilty of murdering her four-year-old son.

Jessica Dutro, 25, has been convicted by jurors of the death of Zachary Dutro-Boggess. Zachary died in August 2012 of intestinal tears caused by abdominal trauma received in an Oregon homeless shelter, according to the Oregon Live website.

Paramedics attended and Zachary was on life support for two days but could not be saved.

Dutro went to trial on seven counts: one count of murder, five counts of murder by abuse and one count of second-degree assault. On Wednesday she was found guilty on all counts. The verdict was unanimous.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Megan Johnson told jurors that Dutro subjected her children to "systematic dehumanisation" as discipline.

When Zachary went to the hospital, doctors examined his siblings and found his seven-year-old sister and three-year-old brother were covered in bruises. The three-year-old had five broken ribs. Only Dutro's infant son was uninjured.

Lawyers for Dutro argued that her boyfriend Brian Canady was the one who delivered the blow that tore Zachary's bowel in two places. Canady had earlier pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault for his role in Zachary's death.

Prosecutors pointed the finger at both Canady and Dutro and Dutro's own daughter said she saw the couple "beat my brother up, then he died".

Dutro's sentencing was set for April 18.