Dad jailed for life after murdering baby in Yeovil hospital

A father who murdered his two-week-old baby son on a neonatal ward has been jailed for life.

Daniel Gunter, 27, of no fixed address, denied harming Brendon Staddon but a jury at Bristol Crown Court found him guilty in July and he was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years at the court on Friday.

The jury heard Brendon suffered “catastrophic injuries” including a fractured skull, a broken neck, a broken jaw and broken legs in Yeovil District Hospital’s special care baby unit in Somerset on 5 March 2024.

Sentencing Gunter, the Honourable Mr Justice Swift said: “You, Mr Gunter, were responsible for [Brendon’s] care and his safety. There was an extreme abandonment of duty in that case.”

Warning: This article contains details that some may find distressing, including details of severe injuries.

Brendon’s mother, Sophie Staddon, was acquitted of a lesser charge of causing or allowing the death of a child.

Brendon was born prematurely at 33 weeks on 20 February 2024 – weighing 1.83kg (4.03lbs) – and died at 14 days old in the early hours of 5 March.

During the trial, the jury heard nurses observed Gunter shout at Brendon and show “no patience” with him as well as being “really rough with him”.

In Brandon’s final hours, Ms Staddon told nurses she woke up to find Brendon “cold” and as doctors tried to resuscitate him, the court heard, she and Gunter went outside “for air” and smoked.

Nurses discovered Brendon in his cot and immediately saw he had catastrophic injuries, jurors were told, at about 04:00 GMT.

Dr David Sweet, who reviewed baby Brendon’s death, concluded he must have suffered his injuries at least 25 to 30 minutes before the couple raised the alarm, jurors heard.

A medical expert told the trial that Brendon’s injuries were consistent with his head being swung against a hard surface “more than once” while he was being held by his ankles.

Charles Row KC, prosecuting, told the court on Friday he would have “died or was dying” in Gunter’s arms during the final incident.

In an impact statement written by Simon Gunter – the defendant’s father and Brendon’s grandfather – he said Brendon was “just perfect”.

The statement was read out in court by Mr Row.

“He was making great progress ready for his discharge from hospital,” the statement said.

Describing hugging him in hospital during his care, he said: “Never did we think it was a memory we would hold so dear which we will treasure forever.”

He added: “All I’ve ever wanted [was] to be told the truth. As a family we want answers but still we’ve had nothing.

“He didn’t even have a chance to give us his first smile. We never got to experience birthdays, Christmas or take him on holiday.”

Andrew Langdon KC, defending, told the court Gunter was “immature for his age”, had a “very low IQ” and had “recognised emotional and learning difficulties”.

He added Gunter had a “tough childhood”.

The judge gave Gunter a minimum term of 20 years of which he has already served 491 days, meaning he will serve the remaining 18 years and 239 days.