Father admits trying to murder baby

A FATHER from Yorkshire has pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his own newborn son.

The man, 25, from Bradford, who cannot be identified because of a court order giving anonymity to the child, made his second appearance before a crown court judge in the city and formally entered his guilty plea to the allegation.

It is understood the defendant tried to smother his son, who was only a few weeks old, at a property in Bradford earlier this year.

He had been due to stand trial later this month, but yesterday Judge David Hatton QC was told that an psychiatrist, who had assessed the defendant, had concluded that he was fit to enter his plea to the charge.

Barrister Tahir Khan QC, for the man, said the psychiatrist had made it clear in his report that the defendant “understood” what he was doing at the time and therefore no medical defence could be advanced. Mr Khan said the report went on to indicate that while no medical disposal would be advanced, a hospital order may be the appropriate way of dealing with his client.

“Of course, before a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act can be entertained there needs to be an assessment conducted of the defendant,” said Mr Khan.

The defendant is due to be seen by a second psychiatrist this week with a view to an application for an interim hospital order being made at a further court appearance on August 31.

The man is expected to be transferred from prison to the Newton Lodge secure unit in Wakefield for the assessment.

“How long the assessments will take is of course down to the doctors,” said Mr Khan.

It is not expected that the defendant will be sentenced at the next hearing at the end of the month.

Judge Hatton adjourned the case until August 31 and told the defendant: “You’ll be brought here again on the 31st and the future of the case will then be hopefully charted and determined to some extent.”