Latest news with #BrendonStaddon
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
Parents of two-week-old baby ‘went for cigarette after shattering his skull'
The parents of a two-week-old baby shattered his skull and then went for a cigarette as nurses tried to resuscitate him, a court heard. Brendon Staddon suffered 'catastrophic injuries' to his head, neck, legs and jaw, while in the special care baby unit at the Yeovil District Hospital in Somerset on March 5 last year. His parents, Daniel Gunter, 27, and Sophie Staddon, 23, are both accused of murder and causing or allowing Brendon's death. Bristol Crown Court heard hospital staff had discovered the boy's injuries after Staddon told nurses her son was cold and asked them to check on him. While the staff tried to save Brendon, his parents walked outside for a cigarette, said Charles Row KC, prosecuting. 'Staff found him lying in his cot with his baby grow open,' Mr Row said. 'They immediately saw that he wasn't just cold but that he had suffered catastrophic injuries. 'In plain language, his head had been crushed so as to shatter his skull. He was badly bruised from head to toe, with deep scratches in his neck. 'He was later found to have, amongst other injuries, a broken neck, a broken jaw, broken legs, broken ankles and broken wrists.' 'Ignored the advice of nurses' The prosecution said staff carried his 'limp, lifeless body' to the resuscitation area, but Brendon did not respond to treatment. Gunter and Staddon were arrested by the police while smoking outside. Mr Row said that before Brendon died, social services and Gunter's family were worried about the 'lack of emotional warmth' the couple showed their child. When Brendon was born on Feb 20, 2024, attempts were made to persuade Staddon to stay in the hospital, but she went back to the temporary accommodation she shared with Gunter. While in hospital, Gunter repeatedly ignored the advice of nurses, taking Brendon out of the incubator without asking, overstimulating the child to the point of causing him distress and removing his nasal gastric tube. Severe head injury Mr Row said the jury needed to understand the 'sheer brutality' involved in the death. A post-mortem examination found Brendon died of 'blunt force impact(s) head injury' with multiple non-accidental injuries to the head. 'There was hardly a part of his body that was spared,' Mr Row said. The prosecutor referred to a report from Dr Roger Malcolmson, a consultant paediatric and perinatal pathologist, which suggested a severe impact head injury. '(The injuries are) consistent with a severe crush injury – like a cathode ray type television falling on a child's head,' Mr Row said. 'Upset and panicking' On the day Brendon died, Gunter asked for milk to feed Brendon at around 3am. Half an hour later, a nurse asked if they were alright, with Gunter answering in a way she 'considered odd'. 'His reply did not seem natural to her,' Mr Row said. 'He seemed excited, his response was unusually animated, and he was nodding exaggeratedly. '(The nurse) thought later that it was as if he didn't want her to go over to her.' Just after 4am Staddon approached the nursing admin station to tell them Brendon was cold. Mr Row said: 'Ms Staddon called out to Mr Gunter, 'I don't know if he is alive or not'. 'Mr Gunter said, 'he's fine, babe, he's fine'. 'Ms Staddon was upset and panicking, particularly when she heard that Brendon was not breathing. She replied, 'he's not fine'.' Staddon began 'crying hysterically', saying she wanted to see her baby, but Gunter told her to 'let them do what they need to do'. Controlling behaviour While nurses began CPR, the couple went outside for a cigarette and never returned to check on Brendon's condition. As he was led to the police van, Gunter said to his partner: 'Promise me, stick together, yeah?' The court also heard the pair had an 'on-off' relationship, with Gunter described as being 'violent' towards his partner, controlling her finances and who she could talk to. Gunter and Staddon, both of no fixed address, deny charges of murder and causing or allowing Brendon's death.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Murder-accused parents smoked outside as medics tried to save baby's life
The parents accused of murdering their two-week-old baby went outside to smoke while nurses tried to save their son's life, a court has been Staddon suffered "catastrophic injuries" to his head, neck, legs and jaw, while in Yeovil District Hospital's special care baby unit in March parents, Daniel Gunter, 27, and Sophie Staddon, 21, are both accused of murder and causing or allowing Brendon's death. They deny the Row KC, prosecuting, told jurors on Tuesday: "You need to understand the level of sheer brutality. There was hardly a part of his body that was spared. [The injuries are) consistent with a severe crush injury." Hospital staff discovered Brendon's injuries after Ms Staddon asked them to check on him because "he was cold", the jury was that night, Mr Gunter had asked a nurse for milk to feed his son and when she later checked on him, he answered in a way she "considered odd"."He seemed excited, his response was unusually animated, and he was nodding exaggeratedly," said Mr Staddon began "crying hysterically", saying she wanted to see her baby, but Mr Gunter told her to "let them do what they need to do"."Staff found him [Brendon] lying in his cot with his baby grow open."They immediately saw that he wasn't just cold but that he had suffered catastrophic injuries," he added. He was later found to have, amongst other injuries, a broken neck, a broken jaw, broken legs, broken ankles and broken wrists.A post-mortem found Brendon died of "blunt force impact(s) head injury," with multiple "non-accidental injuries", the court was nurses tried to resuscitate Brendon, the couple went outside for a cigarette, where they were later court also heard how attempts were made to persuade Ms Staddon not to return to live with Mr Gunter - who she had an on-off relationship in hospital, Mr Gunter repeatedly ignored the advice of nurses and removed Brendon from his incubator, overstimulated him to the point of causing distress and removed his nasal gastric tube, the court was Gunter is also said to have been "violent" and controlling towards Ms Staddon, jurors heard.A social worker visited the couple in January 2024, telling them that the authorities planned to remove the baby from their care upon Row told the jury that the couple showed no emotion at the news and "seemed much more concerned about their housing situation".The trial continues.
The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
Parents of baby found with ‘catastrophic injuries' went for cigarette as medics tried to save him, court hears
The parents of a two-week-old boy found in his cot at a special care baby unit with 'catastrophic injuries' walked out to have a cigarette as medics attempted to resuscitate him, a court has heard. Brendon Staddon had suffered a shattered skull and broken neck, his injuries so severe they were compared to those of someone who had fallen from a high building, a jury at Bristol crown court was told. Brendon's parents, Daniel Gunter, 27, and Sophie Staddon, 21, deny murder and also plead not guilty to causing or allowing the death of a child. Jurors heard that Gunter was allegedly controlling and sometimes violent to Staddon and had expressed doubt that the child was his. Charles Row KC, prosecuting, said Brendon was born at 33 weeks in February last year at Yeovil district hospital, weighing less than 'a couple of bags of sugar'. He seemed to be doing well but just after 4am on 5 March, Staddon approached the nursing station and asked the staff to check her baby. Row said: 'Staff found him lying in his cot with his baby grow open. He had suffered catastrophic injuries.' The barrister described the attack as exhibiting 'sheer brutality' with 'hardly a part of his body spared'. He said: 'In plain language, his head had been crushed so as to shatter his skull. He was badly bruised from head to toe, with deep scratches to his neck. He was found to have, amongst other injuries, a broken neck, a broken jaw, broken legs, broken ankles and broken wrists.' The prosecutor said one medical expert likened the injuries to those that might be found in a fall from a multi-storey building or in a 'complex' road accident. Row said on occasion Gunter would be violent towards Staddon. She allegedly said he would shout in her face, had hurled cups and plates at her and had thrown her across a room. He allegedly controlled her finances, dictated who she could speak to and spend time with, what and how much she ate and when she smoked. She told one acquaintance Gunter had said he did not want the baby, the court heard. Row said the authorities were worried about the couple and meetings had been held to decided if Brendon should be taken into care when he was born. Staddon and Gunter looked after the child in hospital but nurses were concerned about how he handled the child. On the day before he died, Staddon was upset because Gunter had allegedly said he wasn't the father. Such was the concern from staff that security were alerted. At about 3.30am on 5 March a nurse looked in on the parents and Brendon and asked if the child was alright. Row said: 'His [Gunter's] reply did not seem natural. He seemed excited, his response was unusually animated.' The nurse could not see anything of Brendon as he was swaddled in a blanket. Just after 4am Staddon approached the nursing station and asked that Brendon be checked as he was cold. A nurse examined him and raised the alarm. Gunter and Staddon left at 4.40am to go outside for a cigarette. 'They did not return, nor did they seek any update on their child's condition,' Row said. When they were arrested, Gunter told police: 'She's my witness and I'm her witness.' As he was being led to a van, the court heard that Gunter said to Staddon: 'Promise me, stick together yeah.' The trial continues.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Parents accused of baby's murder ‘smoked while nurses tried to save him'
The parents of a two-week-old child who was found in his hospital cot with his head 'crushed' walked out for a cigarette while nurses desperately attempted to resuscitate him, a court has heard. Brendon Staddon suffered 'catastrophic injuries' to his head, neck, legs and jaw, while in the special care baby unit at the Yeovil District Hospital in Somerset on March 5 last year. His parents, Daniel Gunter, 27, and Sophie Staddon, 23, are both accused of murder and causing or allowing Brendon's death. Bristol Crown Court heard hospital staff had discovered Brendon's injuries after Staddon told nurses her son was cold and asked them to check on him. While the staff attempted to save Brendon, his parents walked outside for a cigarette, Charles Row KC, prosecuting, said. 'Staff found him lying in his cot with his baby grow open,' Mr Row said. 'They immediately saw that he wasn't just cold but that he had suffered catastrophic injuries. 'In plain language, his head had been crushed so as to shatter his skull. He was badly bruised from head to toe, with deep scratches in his neck. 'He was later found to have, amongst other injuries, a broken neck, a broken jaw, broken legs, broken ankles and broken wrists.' The prosecution said staff carried his 'limp, lifeless body' to the resuscitation area, but Brendon did not respond to treatment. Gunter and Staddon were arrested by the police while smoking outside. Mr Row said that before Brendon died, social services and Gunter's family were worried about the 'lack of emotional warmth' the couple showed their child. When Brendon was born on February 20 2024 attempts were made to persuade Staddon to stay in the hospital, but she went back to the temporary accommodation she shared with Gunter. While in hospital, Gunter repeatedly ignored the advice of nurses, taking Brendon out of the incubator without asking, overstimulating the child to the point of causing him distress and removing his nasal gastric tube. Mr Row said the jury needed to understand the 'sheer brutality' involved in the death. A post-mortem examination found Brendon died of 'blunt force impact(s) head injury' with multiple non-accidental injuries to the head. 'There was hardly a part of his body that was spared,' Mr Row said. The prosecutor referred to a report from Dr Roger Malcolmson, a consultant paediatric and perinatal pathologist, which suggested a severe impact head injury. '(The injuries are) consistent with a severe crush injury – like a cathode ray type television falling on a child's head,' Mr Row said. On the day Brendon died, Gunter asked for milk to feed Brendon at around 3am. Half an hour later, a nurse asked if they were alright, with Gunter answering in a way she 'considered odd'. 'His reply did not seem natural to her,' Mr Row said. 'He seemed excited, his response was unusually animated, and he was nodding exaggeratedly. '(The nurse) thought later that it was as if he didn't want her to go over to her.' Just after 4am Staddon approached the nursing admin station to tell them Brendon was cold. Mr Row said: 'Ms Staddon called out to Mr Gunter, 'I don't know if he is alive or not'. 'Mr Gunter said, 'he's fine, babe, he's fine'. 'Ms Staddon was upset and panicking, particularly when she heard that Brendon was not breathing. She replied, 'he's not fine'.' Staddon began 'crying hysterically', saying she wanted to see her baby, but Gunter told her to 'let them do what they need to do'. While nurses began CPR, the couple went outside for a cigarette and never returned to check on Brendon's condition. The court also heard the pair had an 'on, off' relationship, with Gunter described as being 'violent' towards his partner, controlling her finances and who she could talk to. A social worker visited the couple in January 2024, telling them that the authorities were planning to remove the baby from their care when he was born. Mr Row told the jury the couple showed no emotion at the news. '(The social worker) observed to his surprise was that they seemed much more concerned about their housing situation and what he could do to help with that than they were in the fact that their baby was going to be removed from them,' the prosecutor said. Gunter and Staddon, both of no fixed address, deny charges of murder and causing or allowing Brendon's death. The trial continues.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Parents accused of baby's murder ‘smoked while nurses tried to save him'
The parents of a two-week-old child who was found in his hospital cot with his head 'crushed' walked out for a cigarette while nurses desperately attempted to resuscitate him, a court has heard. Brendon Staddon suffered 'catastrophic injuries' to his head, neck, legs and jaw, while in the special care baby unit at the Yeovil District Hospital in Somerset on March 5 last year. His parents, Daniel Gunter, 27, and Sophie Staddon, 23, are both accused of murder and causing or allowing Brendon's death. Bristol Crown Court heard hospital staff had discovered Brendon's injuries after Staddon told nurses her son was cold and asked them to check on him. While the staff attempted to save Brendon, his parents walked outside for a cigarette, Charles Row KC, prosecuting, said. 'Staff found him lying in his cot with his baby grow open,' Mr Row said. 'They immediately saw that he wasn't just cold but that he had suffered catastrophic injuries. 'In plain language, his head had been crushed so as to shatter his skull. He was badly bruised from head to toe, with deep scratches in his neck. 'He was later found to have, amongst other injuries, a broken neck, a broken jaw, broken legs, broken ankles and broken wrists.' The prosecution said staff carried his 'limp, lifeless body' to the resuscitation area, but Brendon did not respond to treatment. Gunter and Staddon were arrested by the police while smoking outside. Mr Row said that before Brendon died, social services and Gunter's family were worried about the 'lack of emotional warmth' the couple showed their child. When Brendon was born on February 20 2024 attempts were made to persuade Staddon to stay in the hospital, but she went back to the temporary accommodation she shared with Gunter. While in hospital, Gunter repeatedly ignored the advice of nurses, taking Brendon out of the incubator without asking, overstimulating the child to the point of causing him distress and removing his nasal gastric tube. Mr Row said the jury needed to understand the 'sheer brutality' involved in the death. A post-mortem examination found Brendon died of 'blunt force impact(s) head injury' with multiple non-accidental injuries to the head. 'There was hardly a part of his body that was spared,' Mr Row said. The prosecutor referred to a report from Dr Roger Malcolmson, a consultant paediatric and perinatal pathologist, which suggested a severe impact head injury. '(The injuries are) consistent with a severe crush injury – like a cathode ray type television falling on a child's head,' Mr Row said. On the day Brendon died, Gunter asked for milk to feed Brendon at around 3am. Half an hour later, a nurse asked if they were alright, with Gunter answering in a way she 'considered odd'. 'His reply did not seem natural to her,' Mr Row said. 'He seemed excited, his response was unusually animated, and he was nodding exaggeratedly. '(The nurse) thought later that it was as if he didn't want her to go over to her.' Just after 4am Staddon approached the nursing admin station to tell them Brendon was cold. Mr Row said: 'Ms Staddon called out to Mr Gunter, 'I don't know if he is alive or not'. 'Mr Gunter said, 'he's fine, babe, he's fine'. 'Ms Staddon was upset and panicking, particularly when she heard that Brendon was not breathing. She replied, 'he's not fine'.' Staddon began 'crying hysterically', saying she wanted to see her baby, but Gunter told her to 'let them do what they need to do'. While nurses began CPR, the couple went outside for a cigarette and never returned to check on Brendon's condition. The court also heard the pair had an 'on, off' relationship, with Gunter described as being 'violent' towards his partner, controlling her finances and who she could talk to. A social worker visited the couple in January 2024, telling them that the authorities were planning to remove the baby from their care when he was born. Mr Row told the jury the couple showed no emotion at the news. '(The social worker) observed to his surprise was that they seemed much more concerned about their housing situation and what he could do to help with that than they were in the fact that their baby was going to be removed from them,' the prosecutor said. Gunter and Staddon, both of no fixed address, deny charges of murder and causing or allowing Brendon's death. The trial continues.
