The parents of a two-week-old infant, the SUSPECTED Somerset Child Killers, Daniel Gunter and Sophie Staddon, are on trial, accused of murdering him at the hospital.
Daniel Gunter, 27, and Sophie Staddon, 23, are charged with the murder of Brendon Staddon at Yeovil District Hospital in Somerset on March 5 of the previous year.
Infant Brendon Staddon was born preterm at 33 weeks on 20 February and succumbed at Yeovil District Hospital on 5 March.
Officers were summoned by personnel at the hospital where the infant was hospitalised. The Major Crime Investigation Team initiated an inquiry shortly thereafter. Both accused, Daniel Gunter and Sophie Staddon, without a permanent residence, have been charged with murder and with causing or permitting Brendon’s death.
The court was informed that preliminary evidence suggested Brendon succumbed to a “substantial skull fracture” while hospitalised in the neonatal unit.
A jury comprising eight men and four women was sworn in for the case, expected to last four weeks, at Bristol Crown Court on Monday.
Mr. Justice Swift stated: “This case pertains to the demise of a very young child named Brendon Staddon, who was two weeks old at the time of his death on March 5, 2024.”At the time of his death, he was in the neonatal intensive care unit at Yeovil District Hospital, where he had resided since birth.
Charles Row KC is the prosecutor, Andrew Langdon KC represents Gunter, and Adam Vaitilingam KC represents Staddon.
On Monday, jurors were presented with a list of 91 individuals who will be involved in the trial.
Mr. Row is scheduled to commence the prosecution’s case on Tuesday morning.
Daniel Gunter and Sophie Staddon refute both allegations and the trial proceeds.
UPDATE 25.07.25
The father of a two-week-old boy,Daniel Gunter, Somerset Child Killer, who died from ‘catastrophic’ injuries has been found guilty of his murder.
Daniel Gunter, 27, of no fixed abode, has been unanimously convicted by a jury at Bristol Crown Court today (Thursday, 24 July) for the murder of his son, Brendon Staddon, at Yeovil District Hospital in the early hours of 5 March of the previous year.
Sophie Staddon, 21 years old, was exonerated of the charges related to Brendon Staddon’s death.
The murder accusations against Sophie Staddon and the charges of causing or permitting Brendon Staddon’s death against Daniel Gunter were dismissed.
Baby Brendon, born prematurely at 33 weeks on 20 February 2024, was characterised by Prosector Charles Row KC as weighing ‘less than a couple of sacks of sugar.’
Daniel Gunter fatally assaulted his baby, resulting in Brendon Staddon sustaining terrible injuries.
Mr. Row informed the court that Brendon Staddon incurred injuries from head to toe, encompassing a fractured skull and other broken bones..
The Prosecutor then told the court how nurses and doctors fought to save Brendon Staddon’s life after his mother, Ms Sophie Staddon, asked for their help, describing Brendon as ‘feeling cold’.
Daniel Gunter was arrested by police outside the hospital at 4.51am, and baby Brendon Staddon died eight minutes later.
The jury was told how, over several days, Daniel Gunter was told to stop handling, overstimulating and fussing baby Brendon Staddon by tickling him, poking him and not allowing him to rest. One of the nurses who provided words of advice to Gunter was ‘left with the impression’ that he did not take criticism well.
Mr Row explained to the jury: “This sort of over-stimulation is something which is not advised and can have the consequence of distressing the child, causing crying and for oxygen levels to drop.”
They were also told how Daniel Gunter was witnessed by visiting family ‘being rough’ in handling Brendon Staddon and became angry when Brendon urinated on him during a nappy change but did nothing about it.
In the hours before Brendon Staddon’s death, the nurses on duty noticed Daniel Gunter’s demeanour changing. The court was told: “By 3.30-3.40am, [the nurse] said Brendon was with Mr Daniel Gunter. She looked in and asked ’is he alright?’ to which Gunter replied ‘yes, he’s alright’, but in a way that the nurse considered odd.
“His reply did not seem natural to her. He seemed excited, his response was unusually animated, and he was nodding exaggeratedly. The nurse thought it was as if he didn’t want her to go over to him.
Ms. Sophie Staddon entered the nurses’ station just after 4 AM to express worries over her baby.
The jury was informed about Daniel Gunter’s emotionally abusive and domineering conduct towards his intermittent ex-partner, Ms. Staddon.
The jury was informed about Daniel Gunter’s control over Ms. Sophie Staddon’s funds, controlling her social interactions, dietary choices, and smoking habits.
Sophie Staddon and Daniel Gunter shared a mobile phone, a laptop, and an email address, and Gunter occasionally sent messages impersonating Staddon.
A childhood acquaintance characterised Daniel Gunter as ‘fast to anger,’ having observed their interaction first-hand while they were in shared temporary quarters.
Mr. Row informed the court about the involvement of social services during Ms. Sophie Staddon’s pregnancy and the various issues that arose.
He said: “The authorities were concerned about many things, including their precarious housing situation, the way Daniel Gunter appeared to control Staddon and her finances, her physical and mental health and their lack of engagement.”
The court heard how, when the social worker visited the couple in hospital following Brendon Staddon’s birth, he was ‘struck by the lack of emotional warmth shown’ by Gunter but did fuck all about it.
Daniel Gunter will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on 3 October.
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