THE parents of a two-week-old baby who died from ‘catastrophic injuries’ appeared in court for the second day of their trial today (July 1).
Daniel Gunter and Sophie Staddon, both of no fixed address, appeared at Bristol Crown Court for a trial which is expected to last up to four weeks.
The pair have both been charged with murder of a victim under a year old, namely Brendon Staddon, and causing or allowing the death of a child at Yeovil District Hospital on March 5 2024. Gunter, 27, and Staddon, 21, pleaded not guilty to the charges on October 4 2024.
Prosecuting, Charles Row KC shared an overview of the case, explaining how Brendon died and the evidence that they can expect to hear during the trial.
The court heard that Staddon asked hospital staff to check on her two-week-old at 4am, stating that he was ‘cold’. The staff found Brendon with his babygrow undone and that he had suffered from ‘catastrophic injuries’.
Mr Row explained that Brendon’s injuries included blunt force trauma to the head, with a deep scratch on the right side of his neck, as well as various fractures and bruising covering almost the entirety of his body.
The court heard that once he was found, the doctors and nurses at the special care baby unit (SCBU) did everything they could to resuscitate him, but Brendon was pronounced dead at 4.59am.
Mr Row said: “Daniel Gunter and Sophie Staddon then went outside in search of a cigarette and it was then that they were arrested by the police.
“The question is, who killed Brendon Staddon? The crown says it was one of these two defendants.”
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The court heard that Staddon and Gunter had an ‘on/off’ relationship, with witnesses stating that Gunter exhibited ‘controlling’ behaviour towards Staddon – controlling her finances, who she could speak to and what she ate.
Mr Row explained that Gunter and Staddon were told on January 24 2024 that authorities were planning to remove the baby from them once he was born, and it was noted that Gunter and Staddon ‘showed no emotion’ to this news and were ‘more concerned about their housing situation’.
During the opening statement, Mr Row then shared some information about Gunter’s reaction to the baby in hospital. He said witnesses from Yeovil District Hospital will share during the trial how Gunter would regularly take Brendon out of the incubator without any clothes or a blanket and have him on his lap, while rubbing and repositioning him on multiple occasions – which would lead to Brendon’s heartrate dropping and causing him distress.
The court heard that leading up to Brendon’s death, that the pair arrived at hospital on March 4 at 2:19pm. Staddon and Gunter were arguing most of the time they were in the SCBU about whether Gunter was actually Brendon’s father and Staddon was overheard saying ‘just go, leave me alone’.
Mr Row said that throughout the night, Gunter was seen cuddling and feeding Brendon by the nurses. He was checked on at about 3:30am and Gunter said everything was fine, but the nurse said ‘his reply did not seem natural’ and he was ‘excited and was nodding exaggeratedly’ as though he did not want her to check on him.
Just after 4am, Staddon approached the nurses station and asked them to check on Brendon as he was ‘cold’, the court heard. Mr Row said that during her police interview, Staddon had said she was woken by Gunter and told to tell the nurses Brendon was cold, so she did.
The court heard that Staddon was visibly distressed after realising Brendon was hurt and she was heard after the incident saying ‘it’s his dad, it wouldn’t be me’.
The pair then went outside to find a cigarette. The court heard that Staddon sent a message to her mum after the incident. She said: ‘Need you xx’, ‘Brendon not breathing’ and ‘Please mum’, among other messages.
Both Gunter and Staddon were arrested at 4.59am on March 5. After the caution, Gunter said ‘really? What now? Really?’ and both after arrest and at the police station, Gunter said: “She is my witness and I am hers.”
Mr Row finished his opening statement by reminding the jury of the indictment and the charges against Gunter and Staddon.
He said: “It will be for you to decide where the truth lies. In order to prove the case, the prosecution must make you sure of guilt.”
The trial continues.
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