A grieving mother wept in court as she detailed the terrifying moment she discovered her four-week-old baby boy lifeless, his skin grey and body limp.
Atticus Bartlett tragically died from brain injuries after collapsing at the family home in Chard on July 16, 2022. His father, Tony Bartlett, 39, faces charges of murder and manslaughter in connection with his death.
During the trial at Bristol Crown Court, Atticus’s mother, Evelyn Ballentyne, gave emotional testimony. She described coming downstairs to find Atticus making “two gasping noises,” which she recognized as the sound of someone nearing death.
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“If you have ever watched someone pass away, towards the end of their life, they make funny noises and that’s what he did,” she said through tears. Noticing his skin had turned grey, Evelyn realized the baby was no longer breathing and screamed in shock and despair.
She recounted how Atticus had been lying face down on his father’s knees before Tony “flipped” him over. Upon doing so, Atticus’s head flopped back lifelessly.
“I just screamed and ran out of the house,” Evelyn said, recalling the moment she tried to call emergency services but wasn’t sure if the call went through.
Cross-examined about previous statements where she mentioned shaking Atticus to revive him, Evelyn firmly denied this, stating, “My memory is very clear now of that night.”
Defense barrister Nigel Power KC suggested Evelyn might be downplaying her own actions, but she maintained that Tony Bartlett had harmed Atticus.
Evidence also revealed that Atticus had been cared for earlier that evening by his grandmother, allowing Tony and Evelyn to visit a pub and comedy club. It was alleged that while Evelyn went upstairs to change, Tony, reportedly having consumed up to nine pints of beer, was left feeding Atticus and violently shook him, causing severe brain and spinal injuries along with multiple rib fractures.
Despite emergency assistance and hospital treatment, Atticus never regained consciousness and passed away just before midnight on July 23, 2022.
Tony Bartlett denies all charges, and the trial is ongoing.