In a deeply distressing and heart-wrenching case, 27-year-old Daniel Gunter has been found guilty of murdering his two-week-old son, Brendon Staddon, while the newborn was under care in the neonatal unit of Yeovil District Hospital. The infant, born prematurely at just 33 weeks and weighing less than a couple of bags of sugar, sustained horrific injuries including a fractured skull, a broken neck, jaw, and legs. Despite his fragile condition, Brendon endured fatal abuse at the hands of his father in what detectives described as one of the most harrowing cases they have encountered.
Throughout the trial at Bristol Crown Court, it emerged that nursing staff had expressed repeated concerns about the parents’ behaviour, particularly Gunter’s rough and aggressive handling of the baby. Gunter often ignored medical advice, forcibly removed Brendon from his incubator without permission, pulled out his feeding tube, and overstimulated the infant to the point of distress. A medical expert testified that the injuries inflicted on Brendon were consistent with his head being violently swung against a hard surface multiple times while he was held by the ankles. Despite the overwhelming evidence, Gunter denied any wrongdoing, showing no emotion as the guilty verdict was read. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3.
Brendon’s mother, Sophie Staddon, who was also on trial for a lesser charge of causing or allowing the death of a child, was acquitted and told by the judge she was free to go. The court heard how she appeared to be under the controlling influence of Gunter, with nurses observing that he often spoke for her and dictated her actions, including ordering her meals. On the night of Brendon’s death, the couple had returned to the hospital after several days of absence, and at 4 a.m. the next morning, Ms Staddon reported that she had awoken to find her baby cold. By then, doctors estimated, Brendon had already been dead for at least 30 minutes. Shockingly, while medical staff fought to revive the child, both parents stepped outside to smoke.
Chief Inspector Nadine Partridge of the Avon and Somerset Police Major Crime Investigations Team described the case as one of the most disturbing in her 22-year career. She stated that viewing the injuries on Brendon’s tiny body was deeply traumatic for investigators, noting that “there wasn’t any part of him that wasn’t harmed.” She further condemned Gunter’s complete lack of remorse, highlighting that during his arrest, he was more concerned about his phone and vape than his dead son, and never once inquired about Brendon’s condition. “Brendon was failed in life,” she added. “In death, justice is the only protection we can still offer him.”
The verdict has prompted reflection and sorrow from Brendon’s extended family, with his grandfather, Simon Gunter, emotionally stating that their family has been robbed of a lifetime of memories. “We will never see his first steps, hear his first words, or watch him grow into a man,” he said. “He will never be replaced.” Meanwhile, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that it is participating in a Child Safeguarding Practice Review alongside other agencies to fully examine the tragic circumstances surrounding Brendon’s death. The review is expected to be completed and published in the autumn.
