A father is accused of causing the death of his four-week-old son by shaking him violently after consuming nine pints of beer.
The infant, Atticus Bartlett, passed away at a hospital following an incident at the family residence in Chard, Somerset, on July 16, 2022. Tony Bartlett, aged 39, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and manslaughter in connection with the fatal brain injuries sustained by his son.
During the trial, Atticus’ mother, Evelyn Ballentyne, testified at the Bristol Crown Court, describing the distressing moment when she found her son motionless and pale. Allegations suggest that Bartlett, a postal worker, shook Atticus forcefully while they were alone together.
Ballentyne recounted hearing Atticus gasp twice after she went downstairs. She vividly described the harrowing sight of seeing Atticus lifeless and gray, leading her to believe he had passed away.
She observed Bartlett turning Atticus over after he was lying face down on his father’s lap, causing Atticus’ head to fall back lifelessly. Overcome with grief, Ballentyne fled the house, believing she had called emergency services but had not.
The court also heard that Atticus had been under the care of his grandmother and her husband earlier that evening while Bartlett and Ballentyne were out. Bartlett, allegedly inebriated from consuming multiple pints of beer, was entrusted with feeding Atticus when the tragic incident occurred.
Prosecutors claimed that Bartlett violently shook Atticus, causing severe brain and spinal injuries, as well as multiple fractured ribs. Despite prompt medical attention, Atticus’s brain damage was irreversible, and he succumbed to his injuries on July 23, 2022.
Bartlett, a resident of Axminster, Devon, maintains his innocence against the charges, as the trial progresses.