At Yeovil District Hospital in Somerset, a two-week-old baby named Brendon Staddon was discovered in his hospital cot with horrific injuries, including a crushed skull, Severe trauma to his head, neck, jaw, legs, and wrists led to his tragic death. The incident occurred on March 5, 2024, while Brendon was in the special care baby unit.
The court has heard that Brendon’s parents, Daniel Gunter, 27, and Sophie Staddon, 23, both face charges of murder and causing or allowing their son’s death. Despite nurses’ desperate attempts to resuscitate the infant, the couple reportedly left the ward to have a cigarette immediately after Brendon was found injured.
Prosecutor Charles Row KC described the scene: hospital staff found Brendon lying in his cot with his baby grow open, revealing catastrophic injuries. His skull was shattered, accompanied by deep bruising, neck scratches, and multiple broken bones, including his neck, jaw, legs, ankles, and wrists.
READ MORE: How a Weekend at Glastonbury Festival Helped Me Lose Weight—Effortlessly
READ MORE: Hollywood Star Emma Myers Keeps Cool While Filming in Somerset Heatwave
Staff carried Brendon’s limp body to a resuscitation area, but he did not respond to the treatment. Meanwhile, Gunter and Staddon were detained while smoking outside the hospital.
Before Brendon’s death, social services and family members expressed concerns over the parents’ apparent emotional neglect. Staddon had declined to remain in the hospital after Brendon’s birth on February 20, 2024, returning to temporary accommodation with Gunter. During Brendon’s stay, Gunter had repeatedly ignored nursing advice, removing the baby from his incubator, overstimulating him, and taking out his nasal gastric tube, causing distress.
The prosecutor emphasized the brutal nature of the inflicted injuries. A post-mortem examination confirmed that Brendon died from blunt force trauma to the head, with widespread non-accidental injuries.
Expert testimony described the injury as resembling a severe crushing impact, comparable to a heavy television falling onto a child’s head.
On the morning Brendon died, Gunter’s behavior raised suspicion: a nurse noted his unusual, overly animated responses during a 3 a.m. interaction. At around 4 a.m., Staddon alerted staff when she found Brendon cold, voicing uncertainty about his condition, while Gunter insisted the child was fine.
As emergency CPR began, the parents left the hospital ward for a cigarette break and failed to return, neglecting to monitor Brendon’s condition.
Further testimony revealed the couple’s troubled relationship, marked by Gunter’s controlling and violent tendencies. Social workers had warned them about the imminent removal of Brendon from their care due to safety concerns. Yet, the couple appeared more distressed about their housing situation than the welfare of their baby.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, Gunter and Staddon deny the charges of murder and causing or allowing the death of Brendon Staddon. The trial is ongoing.