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| Father jailed for murdering baby | Father jailed for murdering baby |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A man has been jailed for life for murdering his five-week-old son. | |
| Brian Saunders, 31, of Quarry Street, Torpoint, Cornwall, had denied murdering Rilee in March 2008 but was found guilty at Exeter Crown Court. | |
| Prosecutors told the court that Rilee's injuries, which included a skull fracture and brain damage, were similar to those suffered in a car crash. | Prosecutors told the court that Rilee's injuries, which included a skull fracture and brain damage, were similar to those suffered in a car crash. |
| Saunders must serve at least 18 years before being eligible for parole, the judge decided. | Saunders must serve at least 18 years before being eligible for parole, the judge decided. |
| 'Needy' personality | 'Needy' personality |
| The court was told police and paramedics were called to a block of flats on 3 March where they discovered Rilee. | The court was told police and paramedics were called to a block of flats on 3 March where they discovered Rilee. |
| The infant was taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and was later transferred to Bristol Royal Children's Hospital where he died on 7 March. | The infant was taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and was later transferred to Bristol Royal Children's Hospital where he died on 7 March. |
| The injuries were of a level where a child has fallen from a height of one storey or been involved in a car crash Martin Edmunds QC, prosecutor | The injuries were of a level where a child has fallen from a height of one storey or been involved in a car crash Martin Edmunds QC, prosecutor |
| Doctors discovered that as well as suffering a fractured skull and brain damage caused by shaking, the baby also had a fractured knee, caused by "gripping or twisting" with such force that the cartilage was "sheared off". | Doctors discovered that as well as suffering a fractured skull and brain damage caused by shaking, the baby also had a fractured knee, caused by "gripping or twisting" with such force that the cartilage was "sheared off". |
| During the trial the court heard that Saunders, who worked as a DJ, was violent and "needy" and that he had punched his 19-year-old partner Alicia Clark during her pregnancy. | During the trial the court heard that Saunders, who worked as a DJ, was violent and "needy" and that he had punched his 19-year-old partner Alicia Clark during her pregnancy. |
| Prosecutor Martin Edmunds QC told the jury that Saunders would get annoyed "because Rilee was getting all the attention". | Prosecutor Martin Edmunds QC told the jury that Saunders would get annoyed "because Rilee was getting all the attention". |
| "The injuries were of a level where a child has fallen from a height of one storey or been involved in a car crash," he added. | "The injuries were of a level where a child has fallen from a height of one storey or been involved in a car crash," he added. |
| Saunders' explanation for the injuries was that he accidentally knocked Rilee's head on a kitchen cupboard door during a 4am feed. | Saunders' explanation for the injuries was that he accidentally knocked Rilee's head on a kitchen cupboard door during a 4am feed. |