The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Dad is jailed for murder of baby son
A FATHER has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years for murdering his four-week-old son, who was left to die from a broken neck after suffering 23 broken ribs.
Ollie Davis was pronounced dead after being found lifeless in his cot in October 2017, having also suffered fractures to his skull, collar bone, both arms and the joints of all his limbs.
Michael Davis, 29, was found guilty at Leicester Crown Court last month of murder and two counts of causing grievous bodily harm.
Jurors cleared Ollie’s mother, Kayleigh Driver, of murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but found her guilty of charges of causing or allowing the death of a child and serious physical injury.
Sentencing Davis to a life term on Wednesday, Mr Justice Cotter said the murder of Ollie had involved a ‘devastating’ fatal spinal injury inflicted up to eight days before death.
Driver, 31, was jailed for seven years after the judge accepted she did not cause any of her son’s injuries. The judge told her: “You must have heard Ollie’s cries after he was assaulted, as you were together in the bedroom. This must have woken you up.”
Davis, who was living in Upper Temple Walk, Leicester, with Driver when Ollie was killed, was told he had shown ‘callous indifference’ by opting not to summon medical help.
The judge, sitting at Loughborough Magistrates Court, said medical experts had confirmed Ollie suffered 23 rib fractures and other injuries usually seen after a ‘high energy car crash.’
Speaking outside court, Davis’ mother Paula Wright said Ollie had been a ‘special little diamond’ and ‘the sweetest boy you could ever meet.’ Claiming she believed her son had not caused Ollie’s injuries, Ms Wright added: “I think he’s innocent – he’s not even got a temper on him.”
Andrew Baxter, deputy chief crown prosecutor from the CPS said: “Rather than face up to their actions, both parents lied repeatedly about events, and have left it to a jury to determine the horrifying way they treated Ollie.
“Ollie’s death at such a young age came as a devastating shock to his extended family. Our thoughts and sympathies are with them.”