Man Kills Girlfriend's 6-Week-Old Baby By Battering Him With A Shoe And Plastic Bottle

Donna Sullock was enjoying her first night out since Alfie's birth when he was battered by Pearce

Pearce claimed he did not hurt Alfie and gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

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.!