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Alfie Sullock death: Michael Pearce guilty of manslaughter Babysitting boyfriend guilty of killing baby
(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 man who killed his girlfriend's six-week-old baby by battering him with a shoe and plastic bottle 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, was looking after Alfie Sullock, from Cardiff, for two hours while the baby's mother had her first night out following the birth.
Pearce, of Nelson, Caerphilly county, was cleared of murder by a jury at Newport Crown Court. Magistrate's son Pearce, of Nelson, Caerphilly county, was cleared of murder at Newport Crown Court.
He will be sentenced on Wednesday. Mother Donna Sullock said she was "disappointed" with the verdict.
Following the verdict, Alfie's mother Donna Sullock, 29, of Fairwater in Cardiff, wept with friends and family. Alfie had extensive brain damage after the attack and died four days later.
The judge, Mr Justice Baker, thanked the jury, adding: "It is never easy in a case like this." As she wept on the steps of the court after the verdict, the 29-year-old said: "We are disappointed at today's verdict but satisfied that he will still go to prison for what he's done.
"Whatever sentence he will get, it will never be long enough for taking Alfie's life away.
"We have been through a year of absolute hell.
"Rest in peace baby Alfie."
Judge Mr Justice Baker thanked the jury, and added: "It is never easy in a case like this."
Throughout his three-week trial, Pearce denied murder and manslaughter.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. He said he did not do anything to hurt Alfie, who he killed at his home in Nelson in August 2013.
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.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.
The pair had become friends while she was six months pregnant, and later became a couple.The pair had become friends while she was six months pregnant, and later became a couple.
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.
'Trust me''Trust me'
On the night Alfie was taken to hospital Pearce had drunk five pints of beer on the night he babysat - four of them in 45 minutes.
He then returned home and looked after Alfie while Ms Sullock got ready.He then returned home and looked after Alfie while Ms Sullock got ready.
She told the court her baby was fine when she left the house. She told the court her baby was fine when she left Pearce's house.
But less than half an hour into her night out, the pair exchanged a series of text messages. But less than half-an-hour into her night out, the pair exchanged a series of text messages.
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.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.
Alfie was transferred to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, where four days later, on 20 August, life support was withdrawn and he died. Alfie was transferred to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, where four days later - on 20 August - life support was withdrawn and he died.
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.
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.
Following the verdict Gwent Police's Ch Insp Leanne Brustad said: "Innocent baby Alfie Sullock was killed at just six weeks old.
"His mother Donna, and Alfie's extended family, have sat throughout this trial listening to shocking evidence about the nature of his death.
"During an extremely emotional and upsetting time they have handled themselves with great dignity and composure and our thoughts remain with them."
Pearce will be sentenced on Wednesday.