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Father jailed for smothering son | Father jailed for smothering son |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man who smothered his two-year-old son and then tried to kill himself has been sentenced to life imprisonment. | A man who smothered his two-year-old son and then tried to kill himself has been sentenced to life imprisonment. |
Andrew McIntyre of Winstanley Drive, Leicester, killed son Leon then slashed his own wrists and took an overdose of pills, Leicester Crown Court heard. | Andrew McIntyre of Winstanley Drive, Leicester, killed son Leon then slashed his own wrists and took an overdose of pills, Leicester Crown Court heard. |
The 39-year-old, who admitted murder, said he killed the boy because the child's mother could not cope on her own. | The 39-year-old, who admitted murder, said he killed the boy because the child's mother could not cope on her own. |
Judge Michael Pert QC sentenced him to a minimum of 16 years. | Judge Michael Pert QC sentenced him to a minimum of 16 years. |
McIntyre, who suffered from depression and is an ex-cannabis user, was having paranoid thoughts in the days before Leon's death in October last year. | McIntyre, who suffered from depression and is an ex-cannabis user, was having paranoid thoughts in the days before Leon's death in October last year. |
He had stopped taking his medication and was drinking heavily, the court was told. | He had stopped taking his medication and was drinking heavily, the court was told. |
I have to take into account that there are aspects of your mental health that do impinge on this case Judge Michael Pert | |
McIntyre had split up with Leon's mother, Marie Tuckey, but had been allowed to stay at their house. | McIntyre had split up with Leon's mother, Marie Tuckey, but had been allowed to stay at their house. |
The prosecution said the couple were on good terms, McIntyre had been "positive" about the future and Miss Tuckey had no reason to think her son was in danger. | |
But after his failed suicide bid, he woke Miss Tuckey and "calmly" told her what he had done, the court heard. | |
In a letter read out to court, McIntyre said what he had done "still hasn't sunk in". | |
Passing sentence, Judge Michael Pert told McIntyre: "An aggravating factor is that your victim was a defenceless child. | Passing sentence, Judge Michael Pert told McIntyre: "An aggravating factor is that your victim was a defenceless child. |
"I have to take into account that there are aspects of your mental health that do impinge on this case." | "I have to take into account that there are aspects of your mental health that do impinge on this case." |
In a statement issued by Leicestershire Constabulary outside court, Miss Tuckey said: "I can't begin to say how hard it is to wake up every day knowing that my little man, Leon, is not here with me any more. | |
"Anyone who had the pleasure of meeting my bundle of joy will miss his happy smile and his lovely blue eyes. My life will never be full again." |
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