A man who murdered his two-week-old son in a special care baby unit in Somerset has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years. Daniel Gunter, 27, caused catastrophic injuries to Brendon Staddon while nurses worked less than five metres away, yet the attack was so swift and silent that staff did not realise what was happening.
Sentencing at Bristol Crown Court, Mr Justice Swift said the harm inflicted on Brendon was 'beyond comprehension'. The judge stated that Gunter must have held the baby by the legs and swung him forcefully, causing his head to strike a blunt object or surface multiple times. He added that there must have been some planning to carry out such an attack without alerting nearby nurses.
Gunter's former partner, Sophie Staddon, 21, was found not guilty of causing or allowing Brendon's death. She was also in the unit at Yeovil Hospital at the time of the attack, which occurred in the early hours of 5 March last year. After the attack, both parents left the unit for a cigarette as medical staff tried to save the baby.
In a victim impact statement, Brendon's grandfather, Simon Gunter, described the baby as 'precious' and 'a little fighter'. He said the family had happy plans for the future but never saw Brendon's first smile or attempt to crawl. Of his son's arrest, he said: 'Our worlds fell apart. It didn't make sense.'
Andrew Langdon KC, defending, said Gunter had learning disabilities, a low IQ, and a disrupted childhood. He had been threatened repeatedly in prison after his conviction and was too fearful to leave his cell for a pre-sentence report. Police believe a possible motive was Gunter's fear that Staddon might move to a mother and baby unit where he would have no accommodation, and he had questioned whether Brendon was his son.
A child safeguarding practice review is examining whether further measures should have been taken to protect Brendon from his father, who had a history of violence and was controlling of Staddon. The review will also look at the actions of social services, who were considering removing Brendon from the couple due to concerns for his wellbeing.
