Two years for man who shot baby in head ‘to shut him up’
A MAN who shot a friend’s baby in the head wept yesterday as he was jailed for two years.
Jordan Walters burst into tears as he was told Harry Studley was left nearly blind and permanently brain-damaged.
The 18-month-old was crying for his mother when he was shot at point blank range, a court heard.
It was alleged that Walters, 25, had been urged to fire the .22 air rifle to shut the child up but he did not realise it was loaded.
Harry’s skull fractured, leaving him fighting for life, Bristol Crown Court was told. He miraculously pulled through but his eyesight has been “gravely affected”.
He now has several seizures a day and the pellet has been left in his head. Walters was sentenced yesterday after admitting grievous bodily harm during an earlier hearing.
Judge Julian Lambert told him: “You bear a very heavy burden of responsibility for a crime that left a little boy fighting for his life and leaves him with serious disability.
“Only the resolution of Harry in his fight for life and the brilliance of the surgical team saved him. But for your grossly irresponsible behaviour, Harry Studley would today be a bouncing little boy.” The judge added: “The risk involved in pointing any rifle into a room where people are present is gross and obvious.
“If I were to ask anyone why we don’t point rifles in the direction of others the answer would come straight back ‘in case it’s loaded’.”
In a statement, Harry’s parents Amy Allen, 21, and Ed Studley, 22, said: “Justice has been seen to be done and Jordan Walters, who caused Harry harm and such serious injuries, has been dealt with by the court.
“Harry’s struggles continue and will do for the rest of his life and that cannot be changed. Fortunately we still have Harry in our lives. We are looking forwards now and not backwards.
“We would like to sincerely thank all of the staff at Bristol Children’s Hospital who did such a wonderful job in saving Harry’s life.
“We would like to thank the press and media for their interest in our son and all the well-wishers who have contacted us.
“As a family we would like to see changes made to the law so that people who possess high-powered air rifles are made to be more responsible for their actions.”
Harry was shot last July when his mother took him and his older brother Riley to visit Walters’ partner Emma Horseman in Bristol.
Walters was cleaning the rifle he used to shoot rabbits as the two women chatted. It was when Harry began crying and Riley became distressed that he fired the gun.
Ms Horseman, 24, was charged with aiding and abetting Walters after it was alleged that she told her boyfriend: “Shoot Harry, just to frighten him, to shut him up, shoot it at Harry.”
She was cleared after a trial at Bristol Crown Court last month.
Walters’ lawyer Pushpanjali Gohil said he would be haunted for the rest of his life. “He did something so stupid. He cannot forgive himself for that.”