Stepfather Accused of Murdering Five-Month-Old in Rage After Row
A stepfather is accused of killing a five-month-old baby in a violent fit of rage after a heated argument with his girlfriend, a jury at Swansea Crown Court has been told. Thomas Morgan, aged 29, denies the murder of Jensen-Lee Dougal at the family home in Swansea.
Catastrophic Injuries Allegedly Inflicted
The court heard that Morgan is alleged to have inflicted fatal injuries by shaking the infant while full of rage following a dispute with the boy's mother earlier that day. The prosecution claims this alleged assault resulted in Jensen-Lee sustaining catastrophic brain damage, multiple fractures, and extensive retinal bleeding in both eyes.
Morgan, from Gorseinon in Swansea, faces charges of murder and three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The jury was informed that Morgan was in a relationship with Jensen-Lee's mother, Jordan Dougal, and was treated as the baby's stepfather.
Prosecution Details Abusive Exchange and Trust Betrayal
Prosecuting barrister Caroline Rees KC stated that Morgan seriously abused the trust placed in him by injuring the baby. The most severe injury is alleged to have occurred on March 30, 2024, the day before Jensen-Lee died.
Opening the trial, Ms Rees explained that Morgan had argued with his former partner, Georgia Griffiths, earlier that day. This was followed by an angry exchange of messages in which Morgan called her names such as stinking rat and stinking little dog.
Alleged Switch Flipped Leading to Tragic Incident
Morgan was left alone with Jensen-Lee while Ms Dougal went to work. Ms Rees told the court, 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.
While at work, Ms Dougal received a call from Morgan informing her that the baby was choking and had stopped breathing. The defendant then fled the house with the infant to seek help from a neighbour, who performed CPR and called an ambulance.
Devastating Outcome and Defendant's Denial
Jensen-Lee was taken to hospital, where he was found to have a devastating brain injury. He was removed from life support the following day. Morgan denies inflicting serious injuries on the baby and claims he tried to save him after Jensen-Lee fell ill in his care.
Morgan stated that he found Jensen-Lee unresponsive with vomit in his mouth after briefly leaving him alone to fetch a clean babygro. However, Ms Rees countered, 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 trial continues as the court examines the evidence in this harrowing case.
