Five years for father who killed baby son

A paratrooper who momentarily lost control and violently shook his baby son causing him severe brain injuries is today starting a five-year jail sentence for his manslaughter.

Jonathan James, aged 25, was found guilty of unlawfully killing five-month-old Theo Davies at a flat in the Midlands. The jury of five men and seven women took nearly eight hours to reach their verdict following a four-week trial at Crown Court. It was reached with a majority of 11 to one. James' family gasped as the verdict was delivered in court.

The hearing had to be momentarily suspended after a man hurled abuse at the judge and jury. Mr Justice Butterfield ordered the public gallery be cleared after the outburst.

Another man had to be restrained by police after knocking over plants in the court foyer and was later escorted out of the building.

James, of MoD St Athan, Barry, in the Vale of Glamorgan, hung his head and showed no emotion as the sentence was passed. Mr Justice Butterfield said there was much evidence to suggest James had been a caring father but something had "simply snapped" on that day.

Little Theo had been left in the care of his father at a flat in Old Ford Walk, Stourport, while his mother, Leanne Davies, popped out to buy milk from a nearby shop on August 24, 2009.

When she returned minutes later she saw Theo lying lifeless on the bed and a panicking James calling the emergency services.

The baby was rushed first to Worcester Royal Hospital and then to Birmingham Children's Hospital where he died the following day. Post mortems revealed he had suffered severe bleeding in and around the brain which they concluded had been caused by a trauma.

James claimed he had found his son having a fit and said he could not remember what happened next. Mr Christopher Hotton QC, defending, said: "It was a single incident stemming from a momentary loss of self-control. There is no evidence to suggest any prior incident."

Mr Justice Butterfield told James at Worcester Crown Court: "Little Theo, who I have no doubt you cared for deeply, is dead and that is because you killed him. That is something you will have to live with."