A father from Axminster, Devon, has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 18 years for the murder of his four-week-old son. Tony Bartlett, 39, inflicted fatal injuries on baby Atticus in a sudden fit of anger following a night of heavy drinking.
Bristol Crown Court heard earlier this month that Bartlett had returned to the family home in Chard, Somerset, on 16 July 2022, after consuming up to nine pints of beer. His then-partner, Evelyn Ballentyne, had gone upstairs, leaving Bartlett alone to feed their newborn son. It was their first evening out since Atticus's birth.
The court was told that when Ms Ballentyne returned, she found Atticus appearing 'lifeless' and Bartlett seemingly asleep. Emergency services were called, and Atticus was initially taken to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton before being transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, where he tragically died seven days later.
Medical experts testified that Atticus's injuries, which included severe brain damage, spinal cord trauma, and three rib fractures, were consistent with a car crash or a fall from a significant height. The judge, Mr Justice John Cavanagh, noted that Bartlett was 'very drunk' and became enraged when the baby struggled to feed. He stated that the tragedy would likely not have occurred had Bartlett not been so heavily intoxicated.
Mr Justice Cavanagh described how Bartlett, in a drunken state, vented his anger on his tiny son, shaking him violently and gripping him tightly around the ribcage. This lasted only a few seconds to a minute, during which Bartlett intended to cause serious injury. The anger then dissipated, and he dozed off, leaving Atticus with catastrophic injuries that ultimately led to his death.