A father's tragic descent into violence has left an entire community reeling after a four-week-old baby boy was brutally killed in their home. Tony Bartlett, 39, has been found guilty of causing the fatal injuries to his son, Atticus, at their address in Chard, Somerset, on 16 July 2022.
Prosecutors outlined how Bartlett had consumed an estimated nine pints of beer before the incident, while defence lawyers attempted to shift blame onto Atticus's mother, Evelyn Ballentyne. However, medical experts presented unequivocal evidence of the extent of Atticus's injuries, which included severe internal trauma such as extensive brain damage, spinal cord injuries and three rib fractures not caused by resuscitation efforts.
These catastrophic injuries were likened to those sustained in a car crash or fall from a great height and were attributed to extreme force, likely inflicted through violent shaking. Despite Bartlett's claims of innocence, the prosecution argued that he had acted with momentary violence while intoxicated, causing the fatal harm to his defenceless child.
Bartlett, formerly employed as a postman, maintained his innocence throughout proceedings, but was ultimately convicted by a jury at Bristol Crown Court. The trial heard that Atticus's mother initially left Bartlett alone to feed their son before returning downstairs to find him 'lifeless'. Emergency services were summoned and the baby was taken first to Musgrove Park Hospital and then transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, where he tragically passed away on 23 July 2022.
Following the guilty verdict, Atticus's family members were visibly distraught in the public gallery. Det Supt Lorett Spierenburg described the case as 'devastating', highlighting the profound impact of Atticus's loss on his loved ones and condemning Bartlett's actions as a 'violent and cruel act'. The judge commended the jury for their meticulous attention to the case, granting them a five-year exemption from future jury service.