Latest news with #murder
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
WATCH LIVE: Murder trials for Jacksonville rapper Ksoo, friend continue
Testimony continued Thursday in the trials of two men accused of killing a local rapper over a diss track. Hakeem Robinson - also known as Ksoo - and Leroy Whitaker are being tried together with separate juries. CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO WATCH TESTIMONY LIVE AS IT HAPPENS: >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Attorneys finished delivering their opening statements to the jurors on Wednesday evening. Charles McCormick Jr. – better known as 'Lil Buck' — was shot and killed in 2020 in what investigators believe was a gang-related attack outside an Arlington shopping center. RELATED: What to know as accused Jacksonville gang members at the center of deadly drill rap beef go on trial Robinson is charged with 1st degree murder as a criminal gang member While Whitaker is charged with 1st degree murder as a criminal gang member, burglary with assault or battery home invasion robbery Both Robinson and Whitaker are alleged to be a part of the ATK gang. Investigators allege Robinson and Whitaker sought to kill McCormick Jr. because he made a rap song that dissed the late rapper Willie Addision (Big Goon), who is also Robinson's half-brother. During opening statements, both Robinson's and Whitaker's attorneys alluded that the state's evidence in this case came as a result of plea deals, including with Robinson's dad, Abdul Robinson Sr., and suspect Dominique Barner. 'You're going to learn that Blue (Abdul Robinson Sr.), this ain't his first time cooperating with law enforcement. He's done that before. So he has experience. He knows that when he's in trouble and he's caught, if I say what the government wants to hear, I get out. He's done it before and he's going to do it again in this courtroom,' Tara Kawass, Defense attorney for Hakeem Robinson, said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'What you're going to learn is that Dominique Barner came in on January 15th, and he told just enough about himself to get him off this case,' Julie Schlax, attorney for Whitaker, said. 'They let him go.' During the prosecution's opening statements, Assistant State Attorney Joel Cooper said that the evidence will show the motivation behind the murder. 'This was a group of individuals who knew one another, we're close to one another, that were family. Every single one of them that participated in this crime, were members of ATK. The local rap group. All but one of them were related by blood,' Cooper said. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Father found guilty of murdering premature baby son in hospital
A father has been found guilty of murdering his two-week-old son in a special care baby unit. Daniel Gunter, 27, inflicted 'catastrophic injuries' to the head, neck, legs and jaw of Brendon Staddon. Brendon was found in his cot at Yeovil District Hospital in Somerset on March 5 last year. Bristol Crown Court heard that after inflicting the fatal injuries which left his son's head 'crushed', Gunter walked out of the hospital for a cigarette, leaving nurses desperately attempting to resuscitate him. Gunter was convicted of murder following a three-week trial. His former partner, Sophie Staddon, 23, was cleared of causing or allowing the death of a child. ADVERTISEMENT A female juror was visibly upset as the foreman returned the verdicts and as she wiped tears away, she was comforted by two fellow jury members. Daniel Gunter will be sentenced on a later date for murdering his baby son Brendon (Avon and Somerset Police/PA) The jury previously found Staddon not guilty of murder and cleared Gunter of causing or allowing the death of a child on the direction of the trial judge, Mr Justice Swift. The defendants showed no emotion as the verdicts were returned. Gunter, of no fixed address, will be sentenced on a date to be fixed. Remanding Gunter into custody, the judge told him: 'Daniel Gunter you have been found guilty of murder. You will be remanded into custody pending the sentencing hearing. 'Sophie Staddon you have been acquitted by the jury. Your bail will no longer be necessary and you are free to go.' The trial heard hospital staff had discovered Brendon's injuries after Staddon told nurses her son was cold and asked them to check on him. ADVERTISEMENT Charles Row KC, prosecuting, said: 'Staff found him 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. '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. The jury heard Gunter and Staddon were arrested by the police while smoking Row said before Brendon died, social services and Gunter's family were worried about the 'lack of emotional warmth' the couple showed their child. ADVERTISEMENT 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. Family members had witnessed Gunter shouting and getting angry at Brendon while visiting them in hospital and would handle him roughly. Louise Besica, Gunter's aunt, said: 'I felt like he had no patience. He was really rough with him with how he was putting him in his baby grow.' 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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 the authorities were planning to remove the baby from their care when he was born. 'The authorities were concerned about many things, including their precarious housing situation, the way Mr Gunter appeared to control Ms Staddon and her finances, Ms Staddon's physical and mental health and their lack of engagement,' Mr Row said. He told the jury the couple showed no emotion at the news. Gunter told officers: 'At no stage did I do anything to Brendon that could have caused him any injury. 'I was with Sophie the whole time and she didn't do anything either.' In a separate statement, Gunter said: 'I would never hurt my baby boy.' Staddon told police: 'I had done nothing to harm Brendon at all. I love him. He was my everything. I would not have harmed him.' Gunter was found guilty at Bristol Crown Court (Alamy/PA) Following the verdict, Brendon's grandfather Simon Gunter said: '[Brendon] was born early and was so tiny, but so beautiful. He was just perfect. Despite his early arrival, he was a little fighter and proved his strength in the very short life he had. 'As a family, we were so happy and excited. We had bought clothes, toys and supplies in preparation for his arrival and we all had exciting plans for the future. 'But we have been robbed of a life of memories of Brendon. We won't get to see his first steps, hear his first words, take him on his first holiday, and see him grow into a young boy then a man. We will never have those memories. They have been taken from us and he will never be replaced. 'I hope Daniel gets what he deserves for what he did to Brendon but, whatever the outcome, it will never bring him back. 'Today some justice has been served, but we still have many unanswered questions.' Detective Chief Inspector Nadine Partridge, who led the investigation, said: 'The injuries that Brendon sustained were catastrophic and there wasn't a part of his body which wasn't bruised or broken. 'It breaks my heart to see someone do such vicious things to a poor, innocent child who had his whole life ahead of him. 'Brendon was failed in life. In death, justice is the only protection we can still offer him. 'Cases where both the victim and the defendant are related in some way are among the most challenging for us as police. I would like to firstly give my condolences to Brendon's grandparents and their wider family, who we have supported through specialist family liaison officers. 'This investigation has been long and complex, with the involvement of officers from several different departments and professionals from outside agencies. 'I would like to recognise the efforts of everyone involved in this case, it has been a true team effort to bring the case before the courts and I am immensely proud of each and every person involved in this investigation.'
The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
Father found guilty of murdering premature baby son in hospital
A father has been found guilty of murdering his two-week-old son in a neonatal ward. Daniel Gunter, 27, inflicted 'catastrophic injuries' to the head, neck, legs and jaw of Brendon Staddon. Brendon was found in his cot at Yeovil District Hospital in Somerset on 5 March 2024. Bristol Crown Court heard that after inflicting the fatal injuries which left his son's head 'crushed', Gunter walked out of the hospital for a cigarette, leaving nurses desperately attempting to resuscitate the baby. Gunter was convicted of murder following a three-week trial. His former partner, Sophie Staddon, 23, was cleared of causing or allowing the death of a child. A female juror was visibly upset as the foreman returned the verdicts, and as she wiped tears away, she was comforted by two fellow jury members. The jury previously found Staddon not guilty of murder and cleared Gunter of causing or allowing the death of a child on the direction of the trial judge, Mr Justice Swift. The defendants showed no emotion as the verdicts were returned. Gunter, of no fixed address, will be sentenced on a date to be fixed. He was remanded into custody. The trial heard hospital staff had discovered Brendon's injuries after Staddon told nurses her son was cold and asked them to check on him. Charles Row KC, prosecuting, said: 'Staff found him 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. '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. The jury heard 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 20 February 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. Family members had witnessed Gunter shouting and getting angry at Brendon while visiting them in hospital and would handle him roughly. Louise Besica, Gunter's aunt, said: 'I felt like he had no patience. He was really rough with him with how he was putting him in his babygrow.' 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. 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. 'The authorities were concerned about many things, including their precarious housing situation, the way Mr Gunter appeared to control Ms Staddon and her finances, Ms Staddon's physical and mental health and their lack of engagement,' Mr Row said. He told the jury that the couple showed no emotion at the news. Gunter told officers: 'At no stage did I do anything to Brendon that could have caused him any injury. 'I was with Sophie the whole time and she didn't do anything either.' In a separate statement, Gunter said: 'I would never hurt my baby boy.' Staddon told police: 'I had done nothing to harm Brendon at all. I love him. He was my everything. I would not have harmed him.'
Daily Mail
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Father, 27, guilty of murdering two-week-old son while newborn was in hospital
A father has been found guilty of murdering his two-week-old son in a special care baby unit. Daniel Gunter, 27, inflicted 'catastrophic injuries' to the head, neck, legs and jaw of Brendon Staddon. Brendon was found in his cot at Yeovil District Hospital in Somerset on March 5 last year. Bristol Crown Court heard that after inflicting the fatal injuries which left his son's head 'crushed', Gunter walked out of the hospital for a cigarette, leaving nurses desperately attempting to resuscitate him. Gunter was convicted of murder following a three-week trial. His former partner Sophie Staddon, 23, was cleared of causing or allowing the death of a child. A female juror was visibly upset as the foreman returned the verdicts and as she wiped tears away, she was comforted by two fellow jury members. The jury previously found Staddon not guilty of murder and cleared Gunter of causing or allowing the death of a child on the direction of the trial judge, Mr Justice Swift. The defendants showed no emotion as the verdicts were returned. Gunter, of no fixed address, will be sentenced on a date to be fixed. Remanding Gunter into custody, the judge told him: 'Daniel Gunter, you have been found guilty of murder. 'You will be remanded into custody pending the sentencing hearing. 'Sophie Staddon, you have been acquitted by the jury. 'Your bail will no longer be necessary and you are free to go.' The trial heard hospital staff had discovered Brendon's injuries after Staddon told nurses her son was cold and asked them to check on him. Charles Row KC, prosecuting, said: 'Staff found him 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. '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. The jury heard 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. Family members had witnessed Gunter shouting and getting angry at Brendon while visiting them in hospital and would handle him roughly. Louise Besica, Gunter's aunt, said: 'I felt like he had no patience. He was really rough with him with how he was putting him in his babygrow.' 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. 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 said: 'The authorities were concerned about many things, including their precarious housing situation, the way Mr Gunter appeared to control Ms Staddon and her finances, Ms Staddon's physical and mental health and their lack of engagement.' He told the jury the couple showed no emotion at the news. Gunter told officers: 'At no stage did I do anything to Brendon that could have caused him any injury. 'I was with Sophie the whole time and she didn't do anything either.' In a separate statement, Gunter said: 'I would never hurt my baby boy.' Staddon told police: 'I had done nothing to harm Brendon at all. I love him. He was my everything. I would not have harmed him.'
Daily Mail
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Heartbreaking piece of Melina Frattolin 'evidence' dumped in flower bed after nine year-old's murder 'by father'
An electronic tablet believed to have belonged to Melina Frattolin, the nine-year-old girl who was allegedly murdered by her father, was found dumped in a flower bed, a local hotel owner said. Frattolin's lifeless body was found underneath a log in the shallow end of a pond near Ticonderoga Sunday after her father, Luciano Frattolin, reported her missing the day before. Luciano, a Canadian CEO, initially told police his child was abducted by someone in a white van in upstate New York, but now cops claim he misled the investigation after they found her dead. Nearly a week after the little girl's body was discovered, Rob Gregor, the owner of Gregor Hotels in Lake George, said his staff found the device that he believes was Frattolin's in the flowers outside the building just off Exit 22 - the same area Luciano called police to report her missing. 'We looked at a couple other pictures and it looked shockingly similar to, you know, the little girl they were looking for,' Gregor told CBS6. He said objects often get dumped in the town, especially on a Saturday night, but when his staff decided to switch it on they found what appeared to be images of her on the screen. 'She plugged in the tablet and the first photographs look very much like the missing girl at the time. She was missing– We didn't know that she was deceased – So, I ran over to the hotel,' Gregor recalled. After finding the device, Gregor contacted the authorities, prompting a Warren County Sheriff deputy and the New York State Police to respond. A tablet believed to have belonged to Melina Frattolin, the nine-year-old girl who was allegedly murdered by her father, was found dumped in a flower bed outside of a Lake George hotel Rob Gregor, the owner of Gregor Hotels in Lake George, said he found a device that he believes was Frattolin's in the flowers outside the building just off Exit 22 (pictured) - the same area Luciano called police to report her missing 'They took it into evidence. So that's the last I saw of it,' Gregor told the outlet. The authorities are yet to confirm the tablet belonged to the Fratollin. Daily Mail contacted the New York State Police for comment but did not hear back in time for this report. An autopsy ruled that Melina died from asphyxia due to drowning. The manner of death was ruled a homicide. Luciano, who has been arrested in connection to his daughter's suspicious death, was reportedly spotted running by a witness. Ticonderoga resident Rebecca Kulickowski said she had tipped police off after saying she spotted a man sprinting through a hilly section of woodland on Saturday night. She told News10: 'It only caught my eye because as I was driving past the car, I seen a skinny tall guy. And he was running up a hill that he was parked next to and there was wooded area on the bottom of it. 'I just didn't feel right, there was something about him, I don't know, our eyes locked when I drove by, he looked at me.' Luciano (pictured with his late daughter) initially told police his child was abducted by someone in a white van in upstate New York, but now cops claim he misled the investigation after they found her dead Gregor said when his staff powered the tablet on they found images that appeared to look like Frattolin. (Pictured: The flower bed the device was found in) Police released pictures of Luciano's vehicle, a grey 2024 Toyota Prius, as they asked for help in gathering more evidence State Police said they had received over 700 tips from the public after the initial alert was issued. As part of their investigation, they also released pictures of Luciano's vehicle, a grey 2024 Toyota Prius, as they asked for help in gathering more evidence. Captain Robert McConnell with the New York State Police said her father, who lives in Montreal, Canada, killed the girl on Saturday night while they were on vacation close to the picturesque town of Lake George, located in the Adirondacks region of New York. The father and daughter were both in America legally after starting their vacation on July 11. They were due to return to their native Quebec on Sunday. Luciano initially called the local Warren County Sheriff's Office claiming that two men in a white van had abducted his daughter. An AMBER alert was ssued by New York State Police around 10pm, as they advised the public they believed she was in 'imminent danger.' Luciano was charged with second-degree murder on Sunday night. The father remains in custody and has pleaded not guilty Police soon became suspicious of Luciano's story just before locating her body around 2pm Sunday. He was charged with second-degree murder on Sunday night. The father remains in custody and has pleaded not guilty. He is being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility and he was spotted in a white prison jumpsuit and shackles while he was hauled into Ticonderoga Town Court on Monday. The nine-year-old resided full time with her mother and her father visited without limitations. He also had zero criminal record, McConnell said.
