A father was convicted of murdering his four-week-old baby by shaking him, leading to the infant appearing lifeless. Tony Bartlett, 39, initially misled authorities, claiming the baby suddenly fell ill. In reality, Bartlett caused severe harm to the child at their residence in Chard, Somerset, while alone with his son, who was previously healthy. The father’s actions resulted in fatal injuries to the baby. Bartlett, a postman, has been found guilty of murder and is awaiting sentencing after a jury trial at Bristol Crown Court.
During police questioning, Bartlett refused to confess to his crime. Bodycam footage captured him recounting events of the evening, where he and his wife attended a comedy show before returning home. While his partner was upstairs, Bartlett was caring for the baby who started making unusual sounds and then appeared lifeless suddenly. Despite Bartlett’s efforts to seek medical help by calling emergency services, the baby could not be saved and passed away a week later at Bristol Royal Infirmary.
Following the verdict, Detective Superintendent Lorett Spierenburg expressed sorrow over the tragic loss of the baby due to a violent act committed by Bartlett. She emphasized that Bartlett’s actions caused the catastrophic injuries leading to the baby’s death, despite his denial of guilt. The family of the deceased baby endured a challenging investigation and trial process, demonstrating dignity and bravery throughout. Bartlett is set to be sentenced on July 24 at Bristol Crown Court.
