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Father jailed for murdering baby Father jailed for murdering baby
(about 1 hour later)
A man has been jailed for life for murdering his five-week-old son.A man has been jailed for life for murdering his five-week-old son.
Brian Saunders, 31, of Quarry Street, Torpoint, Cornwall, had denied murdering Rilee in March 2008 but was found guilty at Exeter Crown Court. Brian Saunders, 31, of Quarry Street, Torpoint, Cornwall, had denied killing Rilee in March 2008 but was found guilty at Exeter Crown Court.
Prosecutors told the court that Rilee's injuries, which included a skull fracture and brain damage, were similar to those suffered in a car crash. Prosecutors said that Rilee's injuries, which included a skull fracture and brain damage, were similar to those suffered in a car crash.
Saunders must serve at least 18 years before being eligible for parole, the judge decided.Saunders must serve at least 18 years before being eligible for parole, the judge decided.
'Needy' personality The degree of violence you used was horrifying and you didn't care how seriously he was injured Mr Justice Burnett
The court was told police and paramedics were called to a block of flats on 3 March where they discovered Rilee. Jurors heard that on 3 March police and paramedics were called to the block of flats where Rilee's 19-year-old mother Alicia Clark lived with Brian Saunders.
The infant was taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and was later transferred to Bristol Royal Children's Hospital where he died on 7 March. Rilee was taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and was later transferred to Bristol Royal Children's Hospital where he died on 7 March.
The injuries were of a level where a child has fallen from a height of one storey or been involved in a car crash Martin Edmunds QC, prosecutor
Doctors discovered that as well as suffering a fractured skull and brain damage caused by shaking, the baby also had a fractured knee, caused by "gripping or twisting" with such force that the cartilage was "sheared off".Doctors discovered that as well as suffering a fractured skull and brain damage caused by shaking, the baby also had a fractured knee, caused by "gripping or twisting" with such force that the cartilage was "sheared off".
During the trial the court heard that Saunders, who worked as a DJ, was violent and "needy" and that he had punched his 19-year-old partner Alicia Clark during her pregnancy. Saunders claimed that he had accidentally banged Rilee's head against a kitchen cupboard during an early morning feed.
Prosecutor Martin Edmunds QC told the jury that Saunders would get annoyed "because Rilee was getting all the attention". But the court heard that in 2005 Saunders was convicted of child cruelty against his daughter from a previous relationship.
"The injuries were of a level where a child has fallen from a height of one storey or been involved in a car crash," he added. She suffered a head injury when she was eight-weeks-old.
Saunders' explanation for the injuries was that he accidentally knocked Rilee's head on a kitchen cupboard door during a 4am feed. 'Underlying resentment'
Sentencing him for Rilee's murder, Mr Justice Burnett said: "You present a grave danger to any child of your own or of a woman with whom you are living.
"Rilee was a good baby and there was no evidence that when you inflicted those injuries he was crying or was being noisy."
The judge said that Saunders, who worked as a DJ, had an "underlying resentment" towards Rilee because his girlfriend's attention was focused on the baby instead of him.
"The degree of violence you used was horrifying and you were indifferent to the consequences of your actions and didn't care how seriously he was injured," he added.