Tony Bartlett, a 39-year-old postman from Devon, has been convicted of murdering his four-week-old son Atticus by violently shaking him after consuming eight and a half pints of beer. The incident occurred on July 16, 2022, at the family home in Chard, Somerset, following a night out.
Fatal Injuries and Medical Evidence
Atticus suffered severe internal injuries to his brain and spinal cord, along with three rib fractures that could not be explained by resuscitation attempts. He died in hospital a week later. A medical expert testified that the injuries were consistent with those typically seen in high-speed traffic accidents or falls from multi-storey buildings. Paediatric neurosurgeon Amedeo Calisto stated that the baby had sustained significant head trauma, with veins at the top of the head stretched and broken. He confirmed that no natural cause or normal handling could have produced such injuries.
The Night of the Incident
On the evening of July 16, Bartlett and his partner Evelyn Ballentyne visited a pub and comedy club for their first night out since Atticus's birth. Ballentyne's parents babysat. Bartlett drank 8.5 pints of beer before returning home just before 11pm. Prosecutor Charles Row KC argued that Bartlett's loss of temper and frustration were almost certainly fueled by alcohol.
Ballentyne told police that after her parents left, she went upstairs to remove makeup, leaving Bartlett downstairs with Atticus. When she returned minutes later, she heard the baby make two big gulps as if struggling to breathe. She found him floppy and grey, and shook him in a desperate attempt to revive him. She then screamed and sought help from neighbours.
Bartlett's Statements and Verdict
Initially, Bartlett denied causing the injuries, saying he didn't think he shook the baby. However, in a later police interview, he admitted, 'Maybe I was drunk, I didn't handle him correctly.' The jury found him guilty of murder after a four-week trial at Bristol Crown Court. He broke down in tears as the verdict was announced. Sentencing is set for July 24.
Ballentyne's Role
Ballentyne was initially arrested but later treated as a witness. She testified that she shook Atticus in an attempt to revive him, but now maintains she did not cause his injuries. Defence barrister Nigel Power KC noted that she had admitted shaking the baby on four separate occasions.
