10 years for dad who broke baby’s ribs, then killed him
AN EVIL father who killed his fourmonth-old son by shaking him and submerging him in water was yesterday jailed for 10 years.
Alistair Walker, 28, blamed paramedics for the fatal injuries he inflicted on his son Ah’Kiell Walker.
He still maintains his innocence, despite being convicted of manslaughter after a five-week trial at Bristol Crown Court, and even waved to family members in court.
Walker broke four of Ah’Kiell’s ribs in the weeks before his death and also fractured his shoulder, leaving the baby “screaming in pain for some minutes”. His internet searches for that period included: “Can I squeeze my baby?”, “Baby broken ribs” and “Can babies feel pain?”.
Ah’Kiell’s mother, Hannah Henry, 22, was jailed for four years for causing or allowing her son’s death.
Judge Sir John Royce said Ah’Kiell suffered “catastrophic injuries” while in Walker’s care on the morning of July 30, 2016.
“You have decided you will not reveal what you did,” the judge told Walker. “You thought if you denied everything you would get away with it but the jury was not to be fooled by you.”
The judge said Walker had lied to paramedics and “led them up the garden path” about what had happened to Ah’Kiell as they tried to save him.
He added that Henry, described as being obsessed with Walker, would also still not disclose what had happened to her son.
Walker and Henry met in 2014 and later moved into a council flat in Gloucester. Their relationship, described by the judge as “strange and strained”, included an incident in which Walker broke Henry’s jaw in three places when he lost his temper.
Ah’Kiell was born in April 2016 and by June that year had suffered four broken ribs at the hands of his father.
“That would have taken considerable and inappropriate force,” the judge told Walker.
“Ah’Kiell would have screamed in pain for some minutes.”
Walker also used “considerable pressure” and “substantial force” to break Ah’Kiell’s shoulder.
During the week leading up to Ah’Kiell’s death, neighbours heard terrible screaming – including from a baby – coming from the family home.
Bleeding
Henry called 999 just after 10am on July 30, reporting that Ah’Kiell was not breathing and had blood coming from his nose.
A scan revealed that Ah’Kiell had suffered a catastrophic brain injury and had bleeding in his eyes consistent with being shaken.
The baby, who was 17 weeks old, died at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children on July 31.
He died from a lack of oxygen to the brain. This may have been through Walker shaking him and submerging him in water, potentially in the bath, or force-feeding him water in bottles that he had altered to increase the flow.
The judge said Walker had written him a letter complaining about the trial process and the jury, and showed no remorse.
Henry, of Tuffley, Gloucestershire, wept as she was led to the cells.
Walker, of Lansdowne Green, London, waved to family members, who blew kisses at him.