Grandparents are jailed for incinerating their 11-month-old grandson in a wood-burning stove when he annoyed them while they were babysitting in Russia

• Couple blamed each other for the appalling crime in Khakassia region in Russia 
• The grandfather has been jailed for 15 years while his wife faces 9 year sentence  
• Evidence suggests child was first  'suffocated' and then 'pushed' into stove  

A grandfather who burned alive his crying 11-month-old grandson in a stove has been jailed for 15 years.

His wife, the little boy's granny, was imprisoned for nine years by a Russian court over the child's gruesome death.

The couple were babysitting Maxim Sagalakov in Khakassia region when he was murdered by incineration.

Their daughter Viktoria Sagalakova, 21, returned to find the child's charred remains in the stove of the family's house in Kharoy village.

The court heard horrific evidence that the child's crying had annoyed a drunk Zhanna Miyagasheva, 43, and she 'started to suffocate the boy until he was silent'.

Her husband Alexander Miyagashev, 48, then took the helpless boy and placed him in the burning stove.

Senior prosecutor Maxim Rodionov told the court forensic analysis 'reliably established that the death of the child occurred precisely because of the actions of Alexander Miyagashev, since he placed him in the furnace and burned the boy'.

The child died 'from 100 per cent burns to the body' and exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Sentencing the couple, judge Viktor Galimov said: 'The forensic expert explained that before being placed in the stove the child had a heartbeat.

'He was breathing, with a normal body temperature.

'That is, there were signs of life.'

The court heard that the grandfather had previously burned alive puppies and a cat.

In court, the wife and husband each blamed the other for the appalling crime.

'I was heavily asleep,' said the grandmother.

'How could I do this with my beloved grandson?

'People say 'grandchildren are sweeter than children.

'The last time I saw him was alive and well ...'

Alexander denied putting the baby in the stove and told the judge: 'Your Honour, I did not kill. She killed.

'I smoked, went to sleep, then went to the toilet. She told me: "I killed our grandson".'

Neighbour Evgeniy Borgoyakov told Russian television the grandfather had 'turned mad from alcohol'.

He said: 'We hear he pushed the baby into the wood-burning stove.

'That was it.'

Other neighbours said that the couple often looked after the child and previously took good care of him.

The mother who was in court said she could not believe her parents had killed her child.

Reports said she planned to appeal the sentence.

After his death one year ago she posted an emotional message on social media.

'Rest in peace, my beloved son,' she wrote.

'My dear little son.

'My pain does not ease even for a minute.

'How will I cope with it that you are not with me?

'I can't hug you. Only your photograph is here with your kind and tender look.

'I look at your picture and you are smiling to me.

'I miss you so much my son.

'Please come to see me just for one second.

'Come to see me in my dreams.

'I know that you see everything now because you are flying so high.'