A father is alleged to have shaken his baby son to death after consuming nine pints of beer. Atticus Bartlett died in hospital after collapsing at the family home in Chard, Somerset, on July 16, 2022. Tony Bartlett, 39, denies charges of murder and manslaughter related to the death of his son from brain injuries.
Mother's Testimony
Giving evidence at the trial, the baby's mother, Evelyn Ballentyne, told Bristol Crown Court that she screamed upon seeing her son lying limp and grey. It is alleged that Bartlett, a postman, violently shook Atticus while they were alone together.
Ms Ballentyne recounted hearing Atticus make two gasping noises. She said, 'If you have ever watched someone pass away, towards the end of their life, they make funny noises and that's what he did. I then stared at Atticus for a couple of seconds and you could just tell that he had gone grey. He was dead. I screamed.'
She described Atticus lying face down on his father's knees, and when Bartlett flipped him over, 'Atticus's head just flopped back, he wasn't alive.' Her voice breaking, she recalled how his body was limp when moved onto his back. 'I just screamed and ran out of the house. I thought I rang 999 but I didn't.'
Prosecution's Allegations
Prosecutor Charles Row KC asked Ms Ballentyne how often she recalled the events. She wept and replied, 'All the time.' The court heard she had previously given accounts that she picked Atticus up and gently shook him to revive him, but she told the jury this was not the case. 'My memory is very clear now of that night,' she added.
Representing Bartlett, Nigel Power KC suggested Ms Ballentyne attempted to minimise her actions, which she denied. He asked, 'Tony didn't do anything to harm Atticus, did he?' Ms Ballentyne replied, 'Yes he did.'
Events Leading to the Incident
Atticus had been cared for by his grandmother, Rachel Donovan, and her husband Andrew earlier that evening while Bartlett and Ms Ballentyne went to a pub and comedy club. Mr Row previously told the jury that Bartlett drank up to nine pints of beer and was left to feed Atticus while his partner went upstairs to change at about 11pm.
He alleged that while Ms Ballentyne was upstairs, Bartlett violently shook Atticus so forcefully that he inflicted severe internal injuries to his brain and spinal cord. Several of Atticus's ribs were also cracked, Mr Row told the jury. After Ms Ballentyne raised the alarm, neighbours and paramedics attended the property.
Hospital and Death
Atticus was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital by ambulance and later transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. However, his brain damage was so severe that he never regained consciousness or breathed independently again. He died just before midnight on July 23, 2022.
Bartlett, of Axminster, Devon, denies the two charges against him, and the trial continues.
