Tony Bartlett, a 39-year-old postman, has been found guilty of murdering his four-week-old son Atticus at their home in Chard, Somerset. The conviction follows a four-week trial at Bristol Crown Court, where the court heard that Bartlett inflicted 'catastrophic injuries' on the baby after returning from a night out with his partner, the baby's mother.
Police bodycam footage reveals lies
After his arrest, Bartlett lied to police, claiming that Atticus 'all of a sudden seemed lifeless'. Police bodycam footage captured him telling officers that he and his wife had been 'watching a comedian show in town' and returned home before bidding Atticus' grandparents goodbye. He said his partner went upstairs to shower while he cared for the baby, who then made 'stuttering sounds' before dying.
Bartlett told officers: 'We've been on a date night watching a comedian show in town, and we've come home, everything seems fine. The grandparents have left, I think my partner went up to shower. I put Atticus in my lap, he just lay there, nice and fine, he seems fine anyway. And he seemed to make sort of stuttering sounds, but I obviously don't know the difference - what stuttering sounds mean. And then I was just comforting him and he seemed fine and my partner was upstairs.'
He continued: 'All of a sudden he just seemed lifeless. I was like, I couldn't tell that it was a different…and then all of a sudden he just seemed more lifeless. Then he made this weird breathless sound and the minute that breathless sound, panics and the whole, the body just seems flat, I panicked and I was like call 999, quick, something doesn't seem right.'
Catastrophic injuries inflicted
The court heard that Bartlett was alone downstairs feeding his son, who was described as a 'fit and healthy' baby boy, when he inflicted the fatal injuries. Atticus' mother returned from upstairs to find the tot 'lifeless' and taking his last few breaths unassisted. Despite the best efforts of medical professionals and neighbours, Atticus could not be saved. He was rushed to hospital, first in Somerset before being transferred to the Bristol Royal Infirmary, where he died a week later.
Senior investigating officer Det Supt Lorett Spierenburg said: 'This is a devastating case in which a very young baby has lost his life as the direct result of a violent and cruel act. The loss of Atticus has had a profound effect on all those who loved him. Tony Bartlett was alone with Atticus when he suffered these catastrophic injuries and the medical evidence gathered during the investigation proves he was solely responsible for causing them, despite his claims of innocence.'
Family's courage and investigation
Spierenburg added: 'Our thoughts are very much with Atticus' family who've had to endure a lengthy and complex police investigation, followed by a trial. They've shown great dignity and courage throughout. Investigations like this are extremely harrowing and I'd like to thank all those who provided evidence and supported our investigation to establish the facts behind Atticus' tragic death.'
Bartlett, from Axminster in Devon, will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 24 July. He faces a lengthy prison sentence for the murder of his infant son.
