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Alfie Sullock death: Michael Pearce guilty of manslaughter Alfie Sullock death: Michael Pearce guilty of manslaughter
(35 minutes later)
A babysitter who battered a six-week-old baby from Cardiff with a shoe and plastic bottle, causing extensive brain damage, has been found guilty of manslaughter.A babysitter who battered a six-week-old baby from Cardiff with a shoe and plastic bottle, causing extensive brain damage, has been found guilty of manslaughter.
Michael Pearce, 32, had been looking after Alfie Sullock for two hours as the baby's mother had her first night out after his birth.Michael Pearce, 32, had been looking after Alfie Sullock for two hours as the baby's mother had her first night out after his birth.
Pearce, of Nelson, Caerphilly county, was cleared of murder by a jury at Newport Crown Court.Pearce, of Nelson, Caerphilly county, was cleared of murder by a jury at Newport Crown Court.
He will be sentenced on Wednesday.He will be sentenced on Wednesday.
Following the verdict, Alfie's mother Donna Sullock, 29, of Fairwater in Cardiff, wept with friends and family.Following the verdict, Alfie's mother Donna Sullock, 29, of Fairwater in Cardiff, wept with friends and family.
The judge, Mr Justice Baker, thanked the jury, adding: "It is never easy in a case like this."The judge, Mr Justice Baker, thanked the jury, adding: "It is never easy in a case like this."
Pearce denied murder and manslaughter throughout the two week trial. Throughout his three-week trial, Pearce denied murder and manslaughter.
He said he did not do anything to hurt Alfie while looking after him at his home in Nelson in August 2013 and denied slapping and shaking him. He said he did not do anything to hurt Alfie while looking after him at his home in Nelson in August 2013.
Jurors were told Pearce left the room Alfie was in for "no more than 30 seconds" but when he returned he claimed Alfie's chest was not "going up and down and presumed he wasn't breathing". Ms Sullock had left Alfie with Pearce, who she was in a relationship with at the time, to enjoy her first night out since giving birth.
Pearce claimed he gave the baby mouth-to-mouth resuscitation before two paramedics arrived four minutes after he dialled 999. The pair had become friends while she was six months pregnant, and later became a couple.
Alfie was taken first to Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, and later transferred to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, where he died. On the night Alfie was taken to hospital, magistrate's son Pearce had drunk five pints of beer on the night he babysat - four of them in 45 minutes.
Friends with killer 'Trust me'
Ms Sullock had become friends with Pearce when she was six months pregnant and had no concerns about leaving her baby with him. He then returned home and looked after Alfie while Ms Sullock got ready.
She told the trial she exchanged several texts with Pearce while he babysat that night. She told the court her baby was fine when she left the house.
In one, Pearce sent a picture of Alfie, to which Ms Sullock replied: "Has he been crying, his face looks red?" But less than half an hour into her night out, the pair exchanged a series of text messages.
A minute later, Pearce responded saying Alfie had had wind but was sleeping. Pearce maintained Alfie was fine but shortly after he sent a text saying, "you can trust me" he dialled 999 and called Ms Sullock to say Alfie had stopped breathing and was being taken to Prince Charles Hospital.
He sent another text 20 minutes later saying: "You can trust me you know." Alfie was transferred to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, where four days later, on 20 August, life support was withdrawn and he died.
But shortly after 21:10 BST Pearce dialled 999 and then called Ms Sullock to say Alfie had stopped breathing and was being taken to hospital.
A post mortem examination showed Alfie died of blunt trauma injury and extensive bleeding into the brain - Pearce had beaten him with a shoe and a hard plastic bottle.A post mortem examination showed Alfie died of blunt trauma injury and extensive bleeding into the brain - Pearce had beaten him with a shoe and a hard plastic bottle.
After deliberating for 35 hours and 56 minutes, the jury decided by a majority verdict of 10-2 that Pearce was guilty of manslaughter but cleared him of murder.After deliberating for 35 hours and 56 minutes, the jury decided by a majority verdict of 10-2 that Pearce was guilty of manslaughter but cleared him of murder.