Court hears poem as father is sentenced for killing his baby
Farnborough debt collector will serve life sentence for the killing of his four-month-old baby daughter
A HEARTBREAKING poem written by the family of a murdered baby girl was handed out in court moments before her killer – her father – was jailed for life.
Farnborough’s Ross Conlin, 29, shook four-month-old Kiera so violently while alone with her, she had a heart attack and stopped breathing.
Wearing a Marvel comic T-shirt and jeans, Conlin closed his eyes and put his head in his hands as he was imprisoned for life last Friday at Winchester Crown Court. He will serve a minimum of 17-and-a-half years.
The poem, released by Kiera’s mother Kelly-Marie Rayner, 26, and grandfather Paul Rayner, paid tribute to the baby.
It read: “To our darling Kiera, your right to grow has been taken away; You cannot mature, you can no longer play, this so cruelly denied in a barbaric way; Our memories shared with our nation’s heart, may your story grow and help those in part; You leave a mother, and grandparents, your family who loved you dearly, we will all miss you; The police heard your voice, they continued to search, but they knew your killer, like you from the start; Your body helped in a way you did not know, we thank you for that, we love you so; Your dad hurt you, he has no regret, he closed your eyes, he stopped your breath; He has now been judged, he deserves no rights, you are now free from pain, we now say goodnight.”
After a five-week trial, the jury convicted Conlin of murder and three counts of causing grievous bodily harm in the tot’s tragic final months.
On the morning of May 6 2013, Conlin, who had failed to bond with fair-haired Kiera, was alone with her at Mr Rayner’s home in Farnborough.
Just after 10.45am, Conlin, a debt collector, dialled 999 to report his daughter was not breathing and was ‘limp’. Paramedics, who described her as ‘blue’ and ‘glacial white’, fought to save her.
They revived her and took her to Frimley Park Hospital, but her condition was so bad she was transferred to Southampton General Hospital for expert treatment before being pronounced brain dead. Her life support machine was turned off the next day. She died in her mother’s arms at 7pm.
Conlin claimed he had tried to feed Kiera and found her not breathing, but Judge Mr Justice Royce said Kiera’s injuries were not the result of an accident.
Addressing Conlin, the judge said: “This is a sad and tragic case involving the killing of a little girl less than five months’ old. After a time, she would not bond with you at all and she would start to cry if you even approached. It is clear to me you became frustrated, you gripped and squeezed her by the chest so hard you broke her ribs. You must have known she was in pain as she would have screamed. The skull fractures were caused by her head coming into contact with a hard object and she would have screamed in pain. That morning, you caused what were catastrophic injuries which would in a matter of seconds cause her collapse and you knew what you had done.”
Ms Rayner was initially accused of allowing Kiera’s death, but was cleared earlier this month. It was deemed she could not possibly have known the extent of Kiera’s injuries and took steps to ensure her welfare with visits to GPs. Mr Justice Royce continued: “Her victim impact statement outlines the devastating effect the death of Kiera has had on her and her family.”
Bone examinations revealed a rib fracture suffered four to eight weeks before her death and then the same rib and another were fractured 10 days before the fatal event. There was evidence of three skull fractures, and another rib fracture sustained three to five days before her death, plus bleeding behind her eyes.
Elizabeth Marsh, defending Conlin, said: “The fatal injuries were not caused with malice but with frustration he wanted to love her more but she wouldn’t let him. It is tragic for all concerned.”
Bank advisor Ms Rayner and her family wept in the public gallery as the judge handed down the life sentence.
Conlin was also sentenced to five years, seven years and another seven years for the GBH with intent counts, to be served concurrently.