The uncle of a nine-year-old boy who was beaten to death over a missing piece of birthday cake in the US has pleaded guilty to first-degree child abuse.

The mother and uncle of a 9-year-old Maryland boy who authorities say was handcuffed and beaten for sneaking a piece of birthday cake have been charged with murder and child abuse, police said.

THE man who shot and paralysed Alabama Governor George Wallace during a 1972 presidential campaign stop in Maryland was released from prison yesterday after serving 35 years of his sentence.