A 28-year-old man, Rhydian Jamieson, from Cwm Cou, Newcastle Emlyn, has been handed a 35-year prison sentence for trying to kill his infant daughter in a village in West Wales. The court heard that Jamieson angrily hurled the baby at a television in a moment of uncontrollable rage and callously left the scene without checking on her well-being.
Despite pleading guilty to attempted murder in April last year at Swansea Crown Court, Jamieson showed no genuine remorse for his actions according to the judge. Emergency services were summoned to a residence in Y Ferwig, Ceredigion, on January 15, where the baby was swiftly taken to Glangwili Hospital for treatment.
After initial care at Glangwili Hospital, the infant was transferred to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where medical professionals diagnosed her with brain bleeding, a fractured skull, and severe bruising. Judge Paul Thomas KC sentenced Jamieson to 35 years in jail, with a 12.5% reduction for his guilty plea, condemning the assault as an act of extreme heartlessness and self-centeredness.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Jamieson tried to retract his guilty plea, failed to cooperate with pre-sentence assessments, and attempted to shift blame onto a family member for the child’s injuries, displaying a self-pitying attitude. His criminal record includes convictions for various offenses like driving violations, criminal damage, assault, stalking, and disorderly conduct.
Statements from the child’s family described Jamieson as a monstrous individual and a pitiful man-child seeking to inflict harm on an innocent infant. The prosecutor highlighted the significant physical and cognitive impairments suffered by the baby, including visual problems, potential lifelong epileptic seizures, and developmental delays with signs of cerebral palsy.
Despite being absent from the sentencing hearing and claiming wrongful charges and mental distress, Jamieson was convicted. The case has underscored the profound impact of the assault on the baby and her family, who condemned the perpetrator as a repugnant individual responsible for causing immense suffering.
