A father has been convicted of murdering his four-week-old baby by shaking him to death after falsely claiming the infant suddenly became lifeless. Tony Bartlett, 39, initially misled the authorities, suggesting that the baby, Atticus, had fallen ill unexpectedly. In reality, Bartlett inflicted severe injuries on the child at their home in Chard, Somerset, while alone with him.
During the trial at Bristol Crown Court, it was revealed that Bartlett, a postman, had caused “catastrophic injuries” to Atticus, who was described as a healthy baby at the time of the incident. Despite being questioned by the police, Bartlett refused to confess to his actions. However, a jury ultimately found him guilty of murder after a lengthy legal process.
Police bodycam footage captured Bartlett recounting the events of the night, claiming that he and his wife had been out watching a comedy show before returning home. He stated that while his partner was showering upstairs, he was looking after Atticus, who suddenly appeared lifeless and made unusual sounds before passing away.
Despite immediate medical attention, Atticus could not be saved and succumbed to his injuries a week later at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. Following the verdict, Detective Superintendent Lorett Spierenburg expressed the profound impact of the tragedy on Atticus’ family and commended their resilience throughout the investigation and trial process.
Bartlett is set to be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, July 24.