Dad Who ‘Lost Temper’ Guilty Latest News: A 39-year-old father has been found guilty of murdering his four-week-old son after violently shaking the infant at the family’s home following a night out. The verdict came after a four-week trial at Bristol Crown Court, where prosecutors argued that the fatal assault occurred in a moment of anger after the father had consumed several pints of beer.
The baby, Atticus, suffered catastrophic brain and spinal injuries and died in hospital seven days after the incident.
Father Found Guilty Of Murder After Four-Week Trial
A jury at Bristol Crown Court convicted Tony Bartlett, of Axminster, Devon, of murdering his four-week-old son.
Bartlett denied both murder and manslaughter throughout the trial. Following the guilty verdict, he reportedly broke down in court. He is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.
Baby Suffered Devastating Brain And Spinal Injuries
Medical evidence presented during the trial showed that Atticus suffered severe trauma to his brain and spinal cord on July 16, 2022.
Doctors also found three fractured ribs that experts said could not be explained by resuscitation efforts. The infant died in hospital on July 23, 2022, after life support was withdrawn.
Prosecutors Blame Alcohol And Sudden Loss Of Temper
The court heard that Bartlett and his partner had spent the evening at a pub and comedy club while relatives babysat their son.
According to prosecutors, Bartlett consumed approximately 8.5 pints of beer before returning home. The prosecution argued that his alleged loss of temper was likely influenced by alcohol and resulted in a violent assault on the baby.
Mother Raised Alarm After Baby Became Unresponsive
Evidence presented during the trial showed that Atticus was eating when his mother briefly went upstairs.
When she returned moments later, she found the baby struggling to breathe before becoming limp and unresponsive. Emergency services were called immediately, and neighbours began CPR before paramedics arrived.
Medical Experts Describe Injuries As Extremely Severe
Paediatric specialists told the court that the injuries were consistent with trauma normally seen in high-speed road traffic collisions or falls from significant heights.
Experts concluded that the baby’s injuries were caused by violent shaking rather than an accident or routine handling.
Sentencing Scheduled Later This Month
Bartlett was arrested shortly after the incident and initially denied causing any harm to his son. During a later police interview, he acknowledged that he may not have handled the baby properly while intoxicated.
He is due to be sentenced on July 24, following his murder conviction.
A Bristol Crown Court jury has found Tony Bartlett guilty of murdering his four-week-old son, Atticus, after concluding that the infant suffered fatal injuries caused by violent shaking. The father is expected to be sentenced later this month, while the child’s mother was not charged and appeared as a prosecution witness during the trial.
