Parents accused of murdering son deny harming him

Parents accused of murdering their premature baby in a special care hospital unit told police they did not harm him, a court has heard.

Brendon Staddon suffered injuries to his jaw, head, neck and legs at Yeovil District Hospital, Somerset, on 5 March 2024.

Daniel Gunter, 27, and Sophie Staddon, 23, are on trial at Bristol Crown Court accused of his murder, and causing or allowing the two-week-old boy's death.

The pair, of no fixed address, deny the charges against them.

The jury heard how nurses discovered Brendon's injuries - described as "catastrophic" by the prosecution - after Ms Staddon told hospital staff her son was cold, and asked them to check on him.

Brendon, who was born at 33 weeks, weighing 1.83kg at birth (4lb), did not respond to treatment and was pronounced dead at 04:59 BST.

On Wednesday, jurors were read transcripts of Mr Gunter and Ms Staddon's police interviews after they were arrested.

Ms Staddon said: "I went to check him. I felt him. He was cold. I told the nurses. They turned the light on and saw he was blue.

"I started crying. Dan pulled me away and said 'let them do their job'. I was crying and really upset. Dan was also upset.

"Doctors and nurses came in and surrounded Brendon."

The couple were arrested after going outside to get some fresh air.

"I remember asking if they were telling me my baby was dead," said Ms Staddon.

"I had done nothing to harm Brendon at all. I love him. He was my everything. I would not have harmed him."

After his arrest, Mr Gunter was recorded as saying: "How can you say that we killed our baby?" and "That kid was my world, I would do anything for him."

In a separate statement, he said: "I would never hurt my baby boy."

A post-mortem examination found Brendon died of "blunt force impact(s)" from "non-accidental head injuries".

The trial continues.

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