Dad locked up for killing baby daughter (Leeds, England, United Kingdom)

Dad JONATHAN WEEKES has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for killing his infant daughter, who suffered from bleeding in the brain, broken ribs, and other injuries associated with shaken baby syndrome. Mum was also sentenced for "allowing" the abuse, though she has also said that she was afraid of a "row" with Weekes if she were to say anything. Her fear seems to have been justified, since Dad has a history of violence convictions.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Father-locked-up-over-killing.5498892.jp

Father locked up over killing baby daughter
Jonathan Weekes, 18, admitted causing fatal injuries to Kiarra Weekes-Lorryman

Published Date: 28 July 2009
By Suzanne McTaggart

A TEENAGE dad has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years after confessing to killing his baby daughter.

Jonathan Weekes, 18, admitted causing fatal injuries to Kiarra Weekes-Lorryman, who was just four months old when she died at St James's Hospital, Leeds, in March 2008.

The court heard that Kiarra's injuries – including bleeding around the brain and behind the eyes, bruises and perforated ear drums – were consistent with being shaken and banged on the head.

Kiarra's mum Kady Lorryman, 19, was also sentenced to one year in a young offenders' institution after pleading guilty to allowing the death of a child.

Newcastle Crown Court also heard how Kiarra suffered several other injuries in the weeks before her death, including three fractured ribs and an injury to her collarbone.

Prosecuting, Nicholas Campbell QC said: "It is the opinion of experts that the fatal injury was the product of vigorous shaking, at the same time as Kiarra's head impacted against some kind of surface."

At the time of Kiarra's death, the couple were living with Weekes's mother at Alderton Heights, Moortown.

When quizzed by detectives, Weekes – who had previously been given a leaflet called "Never Shake A Baby" – said he would never hurt Kiarra and described her as "the closest thing to my heart".

But he later admitted causing the injury which ended Kiarra's life, although denied knowingly inflicting the other injuries she suffered in the weeks before her death.

Lorryman told detectives that Weekes was "rough" with the baby and said she had been concerned about Kiarra's wellbeing, but was too scared to bring it up with doctors in case it caused a row.

The couple split up shortly after Kiarra's death but broke their bail conditions by meeting in December 2008 and January 2009.

Mr Campbell added: "Lorryman put her relationship with Weekes before the interests of her daughter. She lied about the events surrounding her death both to protect him and herself."

Defending Lorryman, Neil Davey QC said that she was "not wicked" and had enjoyed a "quiet, decent, unremarkable life" until she met Weekes, who has a string of convictions for violence.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Openshaw said: "This is a tragic case where, down to his youth, inadequacies and lack of intellect, he was wholly ill-equipped to accept the responsibilities of parenthood.

A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council said the family were not known to care workers at the time of Kiarra's death but said an "urgent case review" was now under way.