Dad jailed for murder 20 years after he suffocated baby son
LEWIS, THEN AGED JUST 2, SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC INJURIES IN 2001 ATTACK, AND DIED 18 YEARS LATER
A BATLEY dad who suffocated his two-year-old son has been jailed for murder.
Alan Bird, 47, placed a pillow over his toddler Lewis Turner’s face at their home in Dewsbury in 2001, causing catastrophic, life-changing injuries. Lewis survived them and was cared for by his adoptive parents.
In 2002, Bird was jailed for eight years, and served five years and four months in prison before being released on licence. He had pleaded guilty to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm with intent and child cruelty.
Lewis lived for a further 18 years and was cared for by his adoptive parents until his death in July 2019. His death was ultimately caused by the attack at the hands of his father.
Bird was then found guilty of murder at a trial at Leeds Crown Court earlier this month. On Monday, he was handed a life sentence and was told he must serve a minimum of eight years before being eligible for parole.
During the sentencing hearing, The Honourable Mr Justice Jacobs told the court Lewis had been put into the care of his father and his new wife shortly before the attack but following it, had been cared for by a couple who fostered him and then became his adoptive parents.
The judge said Lewis suffered with his health and a brain injury following the attack and was unable to walk, talk and feed himself. A statement read out by Lewis’s adoptive mother told the court she was told by doctors he was “unable to see or hear and had no future”.
Justice Jacobs said: “It is clear from the evidence in the case, including the evidence of a doctor when he [Lewis] was in hospital in 2019, that his parents were entirely devoted to him getting the right medical care in hospital and parental care when he was home.
“The evidence estimated that NHS staff did all that they could to provide the appropriate medical care to him. He was cared for with a devotion that few could match.”
The court heard Lewis lost his life following an operation to fit a feeding tube. A few weeks later, he contracted an infection. Justice Jacobs told abattoir-manager Bird: “Your attack and his brain injury was a significant factor to his death.”
The court heard that before he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and child cruelty in 2002, Bird had attempted to set the blame upon Lewis’ mother. He tried this again when he was arrested and charged with murder. In 2001, despite at first claiming he was not responsible, the court heard Bird had told social services he had suffocated Lewis. Since his release from his first prison sentence, Bird has stayed out of trouble, his barrister James Hill told the court.
Justice Jacobs told Bird Lewis was “particularly vulnerable due to his age” at the time of the attack and “there was an abuse of your position of trust as you were his father.”
He added: “You have spent time in prison for the life-changing injuries you caused. The attack was committed after cruel conduct.
“There was bruising and other acts of cruelty over a period of time. The prosecution and I accept that there was no intention to kill, and the prosecution and I accept that there was no premeditation. I do agree there is significant remorse on your part.”
Bird will have to serve a minimum term of eight years in custody before going before the Parole Board who will determine if he is safe to be released. Following the sentencing, Lewis’s adoptive family said in a statement: “From the moment we adopted Lewis, we tried to provide him with as normal a life as possible, despite the severe injuries he had sustained.
“We are grateful that we were able to have so many fun and happy times with Lewis and make memories that we will always treasure.
“Lewis brought us so much joy, laughter and love whenever he was around. Lewis will always be with us.”
Detective Inspector James Entwistle, of Leeds District CID, said: “This is an absolutely tragic case where a child has ultimately had their life taken away by their parent, who should have been there to care for and protect them.
“We hope that our combined efforts to achieve justice for Lewis will provide some level of comfort and reassurance to those who cared for this child and young man who was so cruelly robbed of his life.”
Lewis brought us so much joy, laughter and love whenever he was around. Lewis will always be with us