A Swansea man stands accused of murdering his five-month-old stepson in what prosecutors describe as a devastating fit of rage, a jury at Swansea Crown Court has heard.
Tragic Death of Infant Jensen-Lee Dougal
Thomas Morgan, aged 29 from Gorseinon in Swansea, denies murdering Jensen-Lee Dougal at the family home. The court heard that Morgan is charged with murder and three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent against the infant.
Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC told the jury that Morgan "seriously abused the trust placed in him" by inflicting catastrophic injuries on the baby. The most serious alleged assault occurred on March 30, 2024, just one day before Jensen-Lee tragically died in hospital.
Alleged Sequence of Events Leading to Tragedy
The court heard that Morgan had argued earlier that day with Georgia Griffiths, his former partner. Following this confrontation, an angry exchange of messages ensued where Morgan reportedly called her names including "stinking rat" and "stinking little dog."
Prosecutor Rees stated: "It is clear that this abusive exchange had flipped some kind of switch in Thomas Morgan. By the time he was alone with Jensen-Lee, he was angry and aggressive and in no state of mind to be caring for a young baby on his own."
Morgan was left alone with the infant while the baby's mother, Jordan Dougal, went to work. While she was at her workplace, Morgan reportedly called her to say the baby was choking and had stopped breathing.
Medical Evidence Presented to Court
The jury heard that Jensen-Lee suffered what medical professionals described as "devastating" injuries including:
- Catastrophic brain damage
- Numerous fractures throughout his body
- Extensive retinal bleeding in both eyes
Prosecutors allege these injuries resulted from Morgan shaking the baby with such violence that it proved fatal. After allegedly inflicting these injuries, Morgan fled the house with the baby to seek help from a neighbour, who performed CPR and called an ambulance.
Defendant's Account of Events
Morgan denies causing any serious injuries to Jensen-Lee and maintains he tried to save the baby after he fell ill while in his care. The defendant claims he found Jensen-Lee unresponsive with vomit in his mouth after leaving him briefly alone to fetch a clean babygrow.
However, prosecutor Rees told the court: "It is the prosecution case that the defendant, his temper raised and his fuse short after an argument with Georgia Griffiths, must have snapped and shaken Jensen-Lee with such violence that he caused devastating injuries which led to Jensen-Lee's death in his mother's arms at only five months old."
The baby was taken to hospital where medical staff discovered the extent of his injuries. Tragically, Jensen-Lee was taken off life support the following day, dying in his mother's arms at just five months old.
The trial continues at Swansea Crown Court as the jury hears evidence in this heartbreaking case.
