Father guilty of murdering premature baby in Yeovil hospital

Warning: This article contains details that some may find distressing, including details of severe injuries.

A father has been found guilty of murdering his two-week old baby on a neonatal ward.

Brendon Staddon, who was born prematurely at 33 weeks, suffered multiple injuries including a fractured skull, a broken neck, a broken jaw and broken legs in Yeovil District Hospital’s special care baby unit on 5 March 2024.

His father Daniel Gunter, 27, of no fixed address, denied harming him, but was convicted of murder at Bristol Crown Court earlier.

Brendon’s mother, Sophie Staddon, was acquitted of a lesser charge of causing or allowing the death of a child.

A female juror was visibly upset as the foreman returned the verdicts and as she wiped tears away, she was comforted by two fellow jury members.

The defendants showed no emotion as the verdicts were returned.

Remanding Gunter into custody, the judge told him: “Daniel Gunter you have been found guilty of murder. You will be remanded into custody pending the sentencing hearing.

“Sophie Staddon you have been acquitted by the jury. Your bail will no longer be necessary and you are free to go.”

During his short life, nursing staff at the Somerset hospital said they had many concerns about his parents’ behaviour, particularly Gunter’s repeated rough handling of him, Bristol Crown Court was told.

A medical expert said during the trial that Brendon’s injuries were consistent with his head being swung against a hard surface “more than once” while he was held by his ankles.

Ch Insp Nadine Partridge, of the major crime investigations team at Avon and Somerset Police, said the case was one of the most challenging of her 22-year career as a detective and described Gunter’s actions as “evil”.

She said having to view the post-mortem injuries had been very distressing for investigators.

“The extent of the injuries are nothing I’ve ever seen before. Brendon’s little tiny precious body at just two weeks old, there wasn’t any part of him that wasn’t harmed,” she said.

The jury heard Gunter was seen getting angry with Brendon while changing his nappy and threatened to make formal complaints about nursing staff when they tried to intervene.

Nurses also feared Ms Staddon was being controlled by Gunter because he would speak for her and order her meals, jurors were told.

The couple left the hospital on 29 February and did not return until the afternoon of 4 March.

At about 04:00 GMT the following morning, Ms Staddon told nurses she had awoken to find Brendon “cold”. Doctors think he would have been dead for at least 30 minutes before the alarm was raised.

While doctors tried to resuscitate him, Gunter said he and Ms Staddon were going outside “for air” and they both went to smoke, the court heard.

Neither Gunter or Ms Staddon gave evidence during the trial.

Ch Insp Partridge said Gunter had been more concerned about his phone and vape being taken when he was arrested, and had never asked after Brendon.

“Daniel’s not shown any remorse whatsoever on his arrest or during his police interviews,” she said.

No date has yet been set for Gunter’s sentencing.