Piper Perri can rest a little easier today because the man accused of killing her 21-month-old son has been convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to 5 years in prison. The judge also ordered that the five-year sentence be served without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension.

Piper Perri, who has been struggling with the loss of her son, is no doubt relieved the man who took her child from her will at least spend some time behind bars.

Still, she is also disappointed with the verdict.

“[The verdict] was extremely disappointing because I felt there was more than enough evidence to find him guilty of this charge.”

She went on to say that she’d like to see the state’s child abuse laws strengthened to include stiffer penalties. “People who hurt children should be locked away.”

Although he was originally charged with murder in the child’s death, he was instead convicted on a lesser charge following a five-day trial.

Seth Redell, 33, was sentenced on May 11 to five years in prison, the maximum sentence for negligent homicide, according to Jefferson Parish court records.

Piper Perri left her child in Redell’s care in the spring of 2016 while she took a trip out of town, according to authorities. They were dating at the time.

The toddler died of blunt force trauma to the head on April 29, 2016, after spending five days in the hospital. Authorities said that Hayden was the victim of shaken baby syndrome.

But Redell’s defense team hired two forensic pathologists, including Dr. Michael Baden, who testified that the child’s injuries occurred due to a fall, attorney Jim Williams said (Seth Redell’s lawyer). Williams believes his client should have been found not guilty and said he intends to appeal the verdict.

Paramedics called to the couple’s home in the 600 block of Allo Avenue on April 24 of that year and found the child unresponsive. He was taken to the hospital, where doctors determined he had severe internal head injuries, including a brain bleed.

Redell first told investigators that the child lost consciousness when he fell by a back door. He changed his story several times about the cause of the injuries, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

During the trial, Redell testified Hayden wriggled out of his arms and fell to the ground while he was trying to remove toys from a crib, Williams said.

Redell initially lied about what happened to Hayden because he didn’t trust the police and was worried that he would be blamed for the child’s death, Williams said.

• You can follow Piper Perri on Twitter at @perripiper.