Dad convicted of killing 11-month-old son gets at least 14 years in prison (United Kingdom)

Unfortunately, this is a common scenario: Young short-tempered father goes off on baby because his video game is interrupted by normal infant crying. This baby died. And it appears this wasn't the first time dad SHANE HAWKINS abused the baby either.

Notice there is no mention of a mother in the home.

http://www.stratfordobserver.co.uk/2013/07/15/news-Father-who-killed-his-baby-jailed-for-life-75159.html

Father who killed his baby jailed for life

Friday 21 June 2013
Updated: 25/06 10:33

A FATHER from South Warwickshire has been jailed for life for shaking his his baby son to death.

Shane Hawkins, of Tredington, had denied murdering his 11-month old son Kaydon who was found injured at a house in Bodmin in Cornwall in December 2010.

But after a majority guilty verdict from the jury at Truro Crown Court, the 25-year-old was ordered to serve at least 14 years.

The court was told Hawkins was a physically abusive father who had told six different accounts of how his son ended up in hospital.

The jury was also told haemorrhaging in the child's eyes was consistent with being shaken violently.

Kaydon was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital but was transferred to Bristol Children's Hospital where he died three days later.

Hawkins, of Blackwell Road claimed the baby's head was injured when he dropped him from about 3ft on to a storage heater.

Mr Justice Hamblen said Kaydon’s death had been caused by Hawkins shaking him violently when the baby’s cries interfered with him playing a computer game.

“You were on your PlayStation and his interruptions angered you, and at some stage you flipped.

“Kaydon’s death was caused by your hand, and it was not the first injury he received as a result of your violence against him,’’ the judge told Hawkins.

The judge said although Hawkins had been “immediately remorseful’’ for his actions, and called an ambulance straight away, he had caused his baby son’s death.

Speaking after the verdict, Devon and Cornwall Police Senior Investigating Officer, DI Jackie Swift, said: “This was a violent act committed against a defenceless baby who sustained fatal head injuries at the hands of the person who was there to care for him.

“In the subsequent investigation, Kaydon was also found to have suffered other injuries during his short life inflicted by his father.

“This was a complex and protracted investigation which was handled sensitively by officers from our Child Abuse Investigation Teams, supported by the Major Crime Team.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the medical experts who provided us with the evidence we needed to help secure Hawkins’ conviction.”