A man who killed his girlfriend's six-week-old baby by battering him with a shoe and plastic bottle has been found guilty of manslaughter.
Michael Pearce, 33, was looking after Alfie Sullock, from Cardiff, for two hours while the baby's mother had her first night out following the birth.
Alfie had extensive brain damage after the attack and died four days later.
As she wept on the steps of the court after the verdict, the 29-year-old said: "We are disappointed at today's verdict but satisfied that he will still go to prison for what he's done.
"Whatever sentence he will get, it will never be long enough for taking Alfie's life away.
"We have been through a year of absolute hell."
Judge Mr Justice Baker thanked the jury, and added: "It is never easy in a case like this."
Throughout his three-week trial, father-of-one Pearce denied murder and manslaughter.
He said he did not do anything to hurt Alfie, who he killed at his home in August 2013.
Ms Sullock had left Alfie, born on 6 July 2013, with Pearce, who she was in a relationship with at the time, to enjoy her first night out since giving birth.
The pair had become friends while she was six months pregnant, and later became a couple.
Although the court was told Pearce began to display "obsessive behaviour" towards Ms Sullock - and even asked her to give him a child just weeks into their relationship.
On 16 August, Ms Sullock travelled from her home in Cardiff to Pearce's house in Nelson, Caerphilly county, to stay the weekend. Pearce suggested she go out with his friend's girlfriend for a "girly night out".
That night Pearce had drunk five pints of beer - four of them in 45 minutes.
He then returned home and looked after Alfie while Ms Sullock got ready.
She told the court her baby was fine when she left Pearce's house.
But less than half-an-hour into her night out, the pair exchanged a series of text messages.
Pearce maintained Alfie was fine but shortly after he sent a text saying, "you can trust me" he dialled 999 and called Ms Sullock to say Alfie had stopped breathing and was being taken to Prince Charles Hospital.
Alfie was transferred to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, where four days later - on 20 August - life support was withdrawn and he died.
A post mortem examination showed Alfie died of blunt trauma injury and extensive bleeding into the brain.
After deliberating for 35 hours and 56 minutes, the jury decided by a majority verdict of 10-2 that Pearce was guilty of manslaughter but cleared him of murder.
Following the verdict Gwent Police's Ch Insp Leanne Brustad said: "Innocent baby Alfie Sullock was killed at just six weeks old.His mother Donna, and Alfie's extended family, have sat throughout this trial listening to shocking evidence about the nature of his death.During an extremely emotional and upsetting time they have handled themselves with great dignity and composure and our thoughts remain with them."
Pearce will be sentenced today Wednesday.
*Wickedness!...he got himself drunk so that he would be able to commit the crime and have his girlfriend all to himself.!
Witch
ReplyDeleteHow anyone can hurt a baby is beyond me. Obsessive possessive spirit,his reason would have been the mother gives more attention to the child and less time for him. Heaven help us.
DeleteWizard!
DeleteWizard...thx God hz paying..d baby is so cute...
DeletePls visit my blog
www.glowysofiscated.blogspot.com
Haba! Patt! Wickedness, wizard those words are more fitting. Witch bi bawo? A man is not referred to as a witch abeg.
DeleteA lot of evil in this world oooooo. Infact the balance has been tilted, things has fallen apart! The center can't hold. Did he think he will get away with it?
DeleteHmmm... obsession n jealousy is a vry bad tng. Been thr n it hurts like he'll. RIP to d Lil baby. Bt dt lady should hv known better to not leave such a tender child wt a man (worse off, one dts obsessd abt u)
DeleteWalahi dis people killing babies and children,should please give dem 2 me.I Luv babies like mad.dis luvly is soooooo cute.
DeleteHow wicked....he should rot in jail
ReplyDeleteGod will punish both this man and woman....stupid woman becos of man u left this innocent baby to die for nothing and such a painful death!! Bloody fools.women who date stupid insane men like this should be killed along side de foolish men.see his eyes like a thief.u are cursed fool!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat is this one saying? Na your type them dey quick deceive. Forming donjazzy
DeleteI'm sorry but this comment seems stupid to me.
DeleteSigned
E.
@Na mi biko....u r obviously nt educated. First ur name,den ur comment.
DeleteSuch hatred towards an innocent child, May God help and deliver us from d wicked!!
ReplyDeleteWickedness of the highest order,he should rot in jail
ReplyDeleteWizard
ReplyDeleted man is wicked,vry wicked.vuh i tink d lady too shud b gvn som tym to cool off in jail.under no circumstance will i leav my child with a drunk person.d baby was nt evn up to three mths so hw cud she leav hm wt somone else.wot dos he knw hw to do wt a six wks baby.night out my ass.i am mor pissed at d woman.......jenny
ReplyDeleteDats wickedness of d highest order!
ReplyDeleteEvil
ReplyDeleteGod will save us.........end tym things
ReplyDeleteHe wasted dat innocent boy.....he ll die in prison
ReplyDeleteBecoming a mum is a full time job, morning and night public hols inclusive. Why leave 6wks old baby with d man alone? She shd have hired a child minder for the day.
ReplyDeletePple are jux wicked unnecessarily.. stupid fellow
ReplyDeleteMay d Devil himself punish u.may u die a slow agonizing death.He was just a 6 weeks old helpless baby! ANIMAL!
ReplyDeleteEvil Man
ReplyDeleteHe killed my birthday mate..he should be killed.
ReplyDeleteWhy did the lady leave the baby with the man when she knew that the man was drunk?the woman is careless and the man is evil,devilish and demonic.He should be jailed.I pity the baby,he died a painful death.oh God please have mercy on us.
ReplyDeleteLilian shut up and calm down..what in the article says she knew he was drunk? Don't believe she will see him drunk and still leave her child behind.. Cos they said he has 5 pints is just a report and might not have been known to the lady at the time.... Her carelessness was in leaving a baby that small with a man..... Sometimes we do little things we don't know might have huge consequences.... This is a man she has known while pregnant and am sure in her wildest dream she never tot this could happen.... Thank God he is behind bars...
ReplyDeleteExtremely careless mother! May the soul of the little child rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteI hope d bastard rots in jail. Satan's incarnate!
ReplyDeleteHe is a wicked man that just didn't want to deal with taking care of another man's child.
ReplyDeleteEvil man.I so hate jealous and obsessive people. EVE E UME
ReplyDeleteTo become mama no easy o. I know she thought hey, he is my BF he can watch the baby but mba! Ladies, watch these men you date and even the ones you are married to. Too many cases in the news of even fathers killing their kids let alone boy friend that is not related to the baby. Lord have mercy on us please.
ReplyDeleteD man is evil....Wicked man,,may u rot in jail
ReplyDeleteD man is evil,,wicked man go & rot in jail.
ReplyDelete