Daniel Gunter, 27, has been found guilty of murdering his two-week-old son, Brendon Staddon, in a special care baby unit at Yeovil Hospital in Somerset. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of 5 March last year, caused catastrophic injuries including a shattered skull and broken neck, comparable to those seen in a fall from a high building. Nurses were working less than five metres away but did not notice the assault due to its speed and silence.
Brendon, born prematurely at 33 weeks, weighed less than 'a couple of bags of sugar'. The court heard that Gunter had a history of violence and was controlling towards his former partner, Sophie Staddon, 21, who was acquitted of causing or allowing the child's death. Following the attack, both parents left the unit for a cigarette as medical staff attempted to save Brendon.
Detective Chief Inspector Nadine Partridge of Avon and Somerset Police described the injuries as 'horrifying' and unlike anything she had seen in 22 years of child protection work. She stated that Gunter must have twisted and pulled Brendon's limbs, possibly holding him by the legs and striking him against hard objects. Partridge criticised Gunter for laughing and joking during the trial at Bristol Crown Court.
A child safeguarding practice review is underway to examine whether further measures could have protected Brendon. Social services were aware of concerns about the couple's ability to care for a child and had considered removing Brendon from their care. Gunter had been cautioned for battery of a previous partner and was sometimes violent towards Staddon.
Staff at the hospital had repeatedly reprimanded Gunter for jiggling, poking, and rubbing Brendon, and had twice placed security on alert due to his intimidating behaviour. Despite this, the attack occurred while nurses were on duty. Gunter offered no explanation for the killing, but police believe he may have feared Staddon moving to a mother and baby unit without him.
