'Parents smoked as medics tried to save baby's life'

The parents accused of murdering their two-week-old baby went outside to smoke while nurses tried to save their son's life, a court has been told.

Brendon Staddon suffered "catastrophic injuries" to his head, neck, legs and jaw, while in Yeovil District Hospital's special care baby unit in March 2024.

His parents, Daniel Gunter, 27, and Sophie Staddon, 21, are both accused of murder and causing or allowing Brendon's death. They deny the charges.

Charles Row KC, prosecuting, told jurors on Tuesday: "You need to understand the level of sheer brutality. There was hardly a part of his body that was spared. [The injuries are) consistent with a severe crush injury."

Hospital staff discovered Brendon's injuries after Ms Staddon asked them to check on him because "he was cold", the jury was told.

Earlier that night, Mr Gunter had asked a nurse for milk to feed his son and when she later checked on him, he answered in a way she "considered odd".

"He seemed excited, his response was unusually animated, and he was nodding exaggeratedly," said Mr Row.

Ms Staddon began "crying hysterically", saying she wanted to see her baby, but Mr Gunter told her to "let them do what they need to do".

"Staff found him [Brendon] lying in his cot with his baby grow open.

"They immediately saw that he wasn't just cold but that he had suffered catastrophic injuries," he added.

He was later found to have, amongst other injuries, a broken neck, a broken jaw, broken legs, broken ankles and broken wrists.

A post-mortem found Brendon died of "blunt force impact(s) head injury," with multiple "non-accidental injuries", the court was told.

While nurses tried to resuscitate Brendon, the couple went outside for a cigarette, where they were later arrested.

The court also heard how attempts were made to persuade Ms Staddon not to return to live with Mr Gunter - who she had an on-off relationship with.

While in hospital, Mr Gunter repeatedly ignored the advice of nurses and removed Brendon from his incubator, overstimulated him to the point of causing distress and removed his nasal gastric tube, the court was told.

Mr Gunter is also said to have been "violent" and controlling towards Ms Staddon, jurors heard.

A social worker visited the couple in January 2024, telling them that the authorities planned to remove the baby from their care upon birth.

Mr Row told the jury that the couple showed no emotion at the news and "seemed much more concerned about their housing situation".

The trial continues.

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