Yahoo News Mother and ex-partner jailed for 'brutal' death of her three-week-old baby
A mother and her ex-partner have been jailed for 10 years each for the “brutal” death of her three-week-old son.
Roxanne Davis, 30, of Gosport, Hampshire and ex-partner Samuel Davies, 24, of Southampton, were convicted by a jury at Winchester Crown Court of causing or allowing the death of Stanley Davis.
The trial heard that Stanley dies of a skull fracture and brain haemorrhage at just 24-days-old on March 28, 2017.
He had also suffered 32 fractures to his ribs and nine fractures to his arms and legs sustained during at least three separate occasions.
Sentencing the pair, judge Jane Miller QC said that the baby suffered a “brutal” attack in which he was violently shaken and could have been thrown across a room.
She said: “Stanley was in pain for much of his short life. The medical evidence is he would have cried inconsolably for 10 to 30 minutes, which means both of you would have been aware of his distress because the flat was so tiny.
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She added: “One of you may have been absent when one of the sets of injuries was inflicted, but not all.”
Davis, who the judge said had treated her baby as a “fashion accessory”, sobbed during the hearing and shouted: “He’s a murderer” as she was taken to the cells.
The judge told her: “Much of your upset is self-serving crocodile tears. Your upset was more about you rather than Stanley.”
She added: “You were delighted to show him off to family and friends, but when you were back at home and he wasn’t a fashion accessory, you were happy to hand him over to your partner.”
The court heard that the former couple, who are not married but share similar surnames, had a fractious relationship, with the police called to the one-bedroom flat they shared in Gosport on March 11 by neighbours who had heard shouting.
Both defendants were tested positive for taking cocaine and cannabis after they were arrested following Stanley’s hospitalisation.
Katie Thorne QC, defending Davis, said that she suffered from depression and added: “Miss Davis’ case has always been that she didn’t cause the injuries. Miss Davis did accept her strong feelings of guilt in failing to protect Stanley.”
Sally Howes QC, defending Davies, who was not Stanley’s biological father, said he had “a great sadness and a great feeling of guilt”.
Derek Benson, chairman of the Hampshire Safeguarding Children Board, confirmed that a review is being carried out of the handling of Stanley’s care by the authorities.
