Moment dad calmly stretches as he's snared for murdering baby daughter who he violently shook her to stop her cries

The Sun

17 hours ago

THIS is the disturbing moment a dad calmly stretches as cops arrest him for murdering his infant daughter.
Baby killer Thomas Holford shook his little girl so hard she suffered "catastrophic" brain injuries when she was just five-weeks-old.
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Everleigh Stroud tragically died in hospital when she was 14-months-old after being subjected to the vile, "excessive and severe" shaking as a newborn.
The innocent tot had spent a year in a vegetative state due to the injuries at the hands of her evil dad.
Holford, now 25, was today convicted of her murder at Canterbury Crown Court.
Chilling bodycam footage reveals the moment cops detained him over Everleigh's death on April 20, 2021.
Kent Police cuffed the then 20-year-old at his home, where he lived with his 16-year-old girlfriend.
The callous killer casually stretches as an officer tells him: "I'm sorry to have to do his but we've had an update from the hospital and they've said the injuries to her face look like they've been caused by a person."
Holford stands with a blank expression on his face as the police woman continues: "The only person with her was yourself."
"Yeh me," he replies calmly.
He is then cuffed and arrested on suspicion of child neglect and GBH.
It came after Everleigh's grandmother raised the alarm when she noticed the tot was "only just" breathing and struggling to cry.
The non-responsive baby girl was rushed to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) in Margate, Kent.
Jurors heard during the trial Holford showed "little emotion" at this time, and continued to play games on his phone.
He also lied to Kent Police about smoking cannabis the night before while he was looking after Everleigh alone.
The newborn suffered a large brain bleed medics understood to be from violent shaking.
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She also had fractured bones and facial bruising, as well as atrophy to her eyes which led her to go blind, and injuries to her anus, the court heard.
On Thursday, Holford, of Ramsgate, was found unanimously guilty of murder and actual bodily harm of his daughter at Canterbury Crown Court.
The newborn spent more than a year in a vegetative state before dying at 14-months old-on May 27, 2022.
Prosecuting, Eloise Marshall KC said: "On the night of April 20 into the early morning of April 21 2021, when Everleigh was just over five weeks old, she suffered catastrophic injuries which caused substantial brain damage, and that resulted in her death just over a year later,
"There is no dispute as to how Everleigh came to suffer those injuries, they were inflicted by her father, Thomas Holford."
She added: "It is the Crown's case that all those injuries were deliberately caused by Thomas Holford, they were what we call non-accidental, members of the jury."
While giving evidence, Holford told jurors he had smoked at least five joints before being left in charge of Everleigh that evening.
He told the court he was smoking more than usual because it was "420" which he agreed was a "big day for cannabis smokers".
Cops had discovered a cannabis grinder and joint butts next to a milk bottle in his bedroom.
Officers noted the youngster appeared to be in a "good mood" playing games when they arrived, despite the fact his baby was fighting for her life in hospital.
"While speaking with Pc Smith, Thomas Holford continued to show little emotion," added Ms Marshall.
He lied to police and said he had not smoked cannabis since 10am the previous morning.
In court Holford admitted trying to deceive officers to "project an image of something that is better than reality".
Jurors were also shown text messages sent by Holford to a contact called Milo.
One read: "Could you strap me anything, as I've got the little one on my own tonight. Going to be f****** stressful."
Holford also confess he had "manipulated" his 16-year-old girlfriend's family into allowing him to smoke cannabis.
In court the 25-year-old tried to claim he couldn't remember what happened the night Everleigh suffered her injuries.
"When it suits you, you have a memory - and when it doesn't suit you, you pretend you don't have a memory," said Ms Marshall.
Holford, who admitted manslaughter of Everleigh last year, will be sentenced for murder and actual bodily harm on July 4.
Senior investigating officer in the case, Detective Inspector Ross Gurden said: "The tragic circumstances of what happened that night, and the following series of events for the family of little Everleigh means this has been an extremely difficult time for them.
"Through the investigation, Thomas Holford has failed to tell the truth and accept responsibility for his actions.
"He will now be facing a long custodial sentence. My thoughts and wishes remain with the victim's family and I thank them for their continued strength and support throughout the investigation."
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