A man originally from the Glastonbury and Street area has been found guilty of murdering his newborn son, who died from catastrophic injuries at Yeovil District Hospital.

Daniel Gunter, 27, of no fixed address, was unanimously convicted by a jury at Bristol Crown Court today (Thursday 24 July) of killing his two-week-old son, Brendon Staddon, in the early hours of 5 March 2024.

Brendon's mother, Sophie Staddon, 21, was acquitted of causing or allowing his death.

Brendon, born prematurely at 33 weeks and weighing "less than a couple of bags of sugar", died after sustaining what prosecutors described as "catastrophic and fatal" injuries across his entire body, including a shattered skull and multiple broken bones.

Prosecutor Charles Row KC told the court that medical staff fought to save Brendon after Ms Staddon raised the alarm at around 4am, saying her baby "felt cold". Gunter was arrested outside the hospital at 4.51am. Brendon died just eight minutes later.

Following the verdict, Brendon's grandfather Simon Gunter said: "[Brendon] was born early and was so tiny, but so beautiful. He was just perfect. Despite his early arrival, he was a little fighter and proved his strength in the very short life he had.

"As a family, we were so happy and excited. We had bought clothes, toys and supplies in preparation for his arrival and we all had exciting plans for the future.

"But we have been robbed of a life of memories of Brendon. We won't get to see his first steps, hear his first words, take him on his first holiday and see him grow into a young boy then a man. We will never have those memories. They have been taken from us and he will never be replaced.

"I hope Daniel gets what he deserves for what he did to Brendon but, whatever the outcome, it will never bring him back.

"Today, some justice has been served, but we still have many unanswered questions."

The court heard how Gunter had been repeatedly warned by staff not to overstimulate Brendon by poking, tickling, and handling him roughly—behaviour that nurses said caused distress and impacted the baby's oxygen levels.

He was also seen by visiting family members being 'rough' during a nappy change, becoming angry when Brendon urinated on him.

By the early hours of 5 March, nurses reported Gunter's behaviour becoming increasingly unusual. One nurse said his response to a welfare check was "exaggerated and unnatural", as if he did not want staff approaching him.

The jury was also told about Gunter's controlling and emotionally abusive behaviour towards Ms Staddon, including controlling her food, smoking, and who she was allowed to speak to. He reportedly shared her phone and email accounts, sometimes messaging people while pretending to be her.

Social services were involved during Ms Staddon's pregnancy, with concerns raised about the couple's housing situation, Gunter's controlling behaviour, and the couple's lack of engagement with professionals. A social worker visiting the hospital after Brendon's birth noted Gunter's lack of emotional warmth.

Senior Investigating Officer Det Ch Insp Nadine Partridge from the Major Crime Investigation Team said:

"The injuries that Brendon sustained were catastrophic and there wasn't a part of his body which wasn't bruised or broken. It breaks my heart to see someone do such vicious things to a poor, innocent child who had his whole life ahead of him.

"Brendon was failed in life. In death, justice is the only protection we can still offer him."

Gunter will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on 3 October.