Daniel Gunter, 27, has been convicted of murdering his two-week-old son, Brendon Staddon, at Yeovil District Hospital’s special care baby unit in Somerset. The court heard that Gunter inflicted devastating injuries to Brendon’s head, neck, legs, and jaw, leaving the infant with a crushed skull.
On March 5 last year, Brendon was discovered unresponsive in his cot. After causing the fatal injuries, Gunter reportedly left the hospital to smoke a cigarette while nurses desperately attempted to resuscitate the baby. Despite their efforts, Brendon could not be saved.
Following a three-week trial at Bristol Crown Court, Gunter was found guilty of murder. Sophie Staddon, 23, the baby’s mother and Gunter’s former partner, was acquitted of any charges relating to the child’s death.
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The verdict visibly affected a female juror, who was comforted by fellow jury members as the guilty verdict was delivered. Earlier in the trial, the jury had cleared Gunter of causing or allowing the death of a child on the judge’s direction.
Gunter, who currently has no fixed address, will be sentenced at a later date. Upon delivering the guilty verdict, Mr Justice Swift remanded Gunter in custody and dismissed the bail conditions for Sophie Staddon, who was free to leave.