A father on trial for the death of his four-week-old son has denied shaking the infant violently, which prosecutors say caused fatal injuries. Atticus Bartlett tragically died after collapsing at his family home in Chard, Somerset, on July 16, 2022.
Tony Bartlett, 39, a postman, faces charges of murder and manslaughter at Bristol Crown Court. Prosecutors claim Bartlett violently shook Atticus while alone with him, resulting in severe brain and spinal injuries, along with multiple broken ribs.
In his testimony, Bartlett firmly told the jury, “I have said from the start, if I had done it, I would have said so from the start.” When asked directly if he caused his son’s injuries, Bartlett replied, “No, I did not,” and denied intending any harm.
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Earlier on the evening of the incident, Atticus had been cared for by his grandmother, Rachel Donovan, and her husband, Andrew, while Bartlett and his partner, Evelyn Ballentyne, visited a pub and comedy club. According to prosecution, Bartlett consumed up to nine pints of beer that night and was left alone to feed Atticus while his partner went upstairs to change.
The prosecution alleges that during this time, Bartlett shook Atticus with such force that it inflicted fatal internal injuries. Upon realizing the severity of Atticus’s condition, Ms. Ballentyne raised the alarm. Neighbors and paramedics rushed to the home, and Atticus was transported to Musgrove Park Hospital before being transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
Despite medical efforts, Atticus suffered irreversible brain damage and never regained consciousness, ultimately passing away just before midnight on July 23, 2022.
Bartlett, residing in Axminster, Devon, maintains his innocence throughout the trial, which is ongoing.