Father murdered baby son in special care unit

A FATHER has been found guilty of murdering his two-week-old son in a special care baby unit.

- ROD MINCHIN Press Association reporter

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, 21, 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.