A heart-wrenching court case has laid bare the tragic final moments of a three-month-old baby boy, who prosecutors allege was shaken to death by his own father amidst a deeply 'toxic' relationship with the child's mother.
The Old Bailey heard that the infant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sustained catastrophic and 'unsurvivable' brain injuries consistent with being violently shaken. The child's father, 30-year-old Carl Alesbrook from Chatham, Kent, stands accused of manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child.
A Relationship Under Strain
Prosecutor Catherine Gould detailed a relationship fraught with tension, describing it as 'toxic' and marked by frequent arguments. The court was told that the couple's volatile dynamic created a pressure cooker environment, which ultimately culminated in the unthinkable tragedy on the day of the infant's death.
Messages presented as evidence revealed Alesbrook had complained to the baby's mother about being tired from caring for their son, hinting at the immense strain he was under.
The Day of the Tragedy
The incident unfolded on September 23, 2022. Jurors heard that the baby was initially 'well and happy' before Alesbrook took him upstairs to change his nappy. It was during this time, the prosecution contends, that the fatal assault occurred.
Alesbrook subsequently rushed the limp and unresponsive baby to his mother, who was in the bath, desperately shouting that the child was not breathing. Despite the frantic efforts of emergency services, the baby was pronounced dead in hospital later that day.
Medical Evidence Points to Force
A post-mortem examination revealed the true horror of the infant's injuries. Medical experts found evidence of bleeding around the brain and eyes, alongside a severe spinal injury. The prosecution stated this pattern of injury was 'diagnostic of shaking' with 'significant force'.
The court heard the injuries were so severe they would have required force akin to that of a road traffic collision or a fall from a first-floor window.
Carl Alesbrook denies the charges against him. The trial continues at the Old Bailey.
