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| Alfie Sullock: Babysitter boyfriend guilty of manslaughter | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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, 33, was looking after Alfie Sullock, from Cardiff, for two hours while the baby's mother had her first night out following the birth. | |
| Magistrate's son Pearce, of Nelson, Caerphilly county, was cleared of murder at Newport Crown Court. | Magistrate's son Pearce, of Nelson, Caerphilly county, was cleared of murder at Newport Crown Court. |
| Mother Donna Sullock said she was "disappointed" with the verdict. | Mother Donna Sullock said she was "disappointed" with the verdict. |
| Alfie had extensive brain damage after the attack and died four days later. | Alfie had extensive brain damage after the attack and died four days later. |
| 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. | 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. | "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." | |
| Judge Mr Justice Baker thanked the jury, and added: "It is never easy in a case like this." | Judge Mr Justice Baker thanked the jury, and added: "It is never easy in a case like this." |
| Throughout his three-week trial, father-of-one Pearce denied murder and manslaughter. | |
| He said he did not do anything to hurt Alfie, who he killed at his home in August 2013. | |
| Ms Sullock had left Alfie, born on 6 July 2013, 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. |
| Although the court was told Pearce began to display "obsessive behaviour" towards Ms Sullock - and even asked her to give him a child just weeks into their relationship. | |
| 'Trust me' | 'Trust me' |
| On 16 August, Ms Sullock travelled from her home in Cardiff to Pearce's house in Nelson, Caerphilly county, to stay the weekend. Pearce suggested she go out with his friend's girlfriend for a "girly night out". | |
| That night Pearce had drunk five pints of beer - 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 Pearce's 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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. | Pearce will be sentenced on Wednesday. |