Dad on trial for manslaughter in death of 5-month-old son (Stourport, England)

Misleading headline. It wasn't as a "soldier" (or as an accountant or mechanic or what-have-you) that dad JONATHAN JAMES "allegedly" committed this crime. It was as a FATHER with access to a helpless infant. We report these crimes all the time, and they are committed by fathers from every vocation and profession--though in many cases the daddy was an unemployed "caretaker" at the time of the "shaking" assaults/murders. Even this baby was in his father's "sole care" while Mum was running errands. And even though Mum was gone for only a few minutes, that's all it took for Daddy to freak out on the baby in a "fit of rage" and kill him.

http://www.newstoday.co.uk/3538/2011/11/soldier-shook-his-baby-to-death/

Soldier shook his baby to death
By News Today · November 26, 2011
A SOLDIER violently shook his baby son to death in a fit of rage while home on leave, a court has heard.

Five-month-old Theo Davies died of severe brain injuries and suffered extensive bleeding behind the eyes after being shaken by his ‘proud and capable father’ Private Jonathan James, a jury were told.

The 25-year-old was said to have acted in a ‘momentary loss of temper or control” while Theo’s mother Leanne Davies was down the shops fetching milk.

He denies the manslaughter of his son and his trial began at Worcester Crown Court.

The court heard little Theo had suddenly collapsed at his home in Stourport, Worcs, on August 24 2009 while in the care of his father.

He died a day later in hospital, the court was told.

Opening the prosecution, Mr Christopher Millington QC said extensive checks had been carried out by experts who had not been able to find a medical condition to account for the injuries.

He said no account of an accident which could explain the injuries had been put forward by any party and said experts had concluded it had been caused by a trauma which occurred near the time of his collapse.

Mr Millington said the prosecution believed it “probable” the youngster had been the victim of “violent and unlawful shaking” while in the sole care of his father.

But he told the court James, now of MoD St Athan, Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, had denied ever shaking his son and had told police he could not account for how the brain damage had occurred.

Mr Millington said on August 24 James, who had been on leave from the armed forces, had got up first and heard his son stirring.

He went in and gave him a feed and medication the youngster was taking for an ear infection.

When James’ partner, the baby’s mother, had got up they realised they had no milk. He had given her GBP10 to get some from a local store.

Mr Millington said she had returned minutes later to James calling for the emergency services and Theo to be in an unresponsive state.

Paramedics and doctors battled to save the youngster – first at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and then in Birmingham.

Although they restarted his heart he was unable breath independently.

“What the exact circumstances were may never be known. There were only two people present at the time. One was the baby, the other the defendant.

“We believe it probable that Theo was the victim of violent and vigorous shaking.

“We do not say this was inflicted intentionally. There is much evidence to suggest the defendant was a proud and capable father.

“The action was probably the result of a momentary loss of temper or control.”

But the court heard James said he had been alerted something was wrong with his son when he heard a “bumping sound and a gurgle”.

The trial continues.