Father found guilty of murdering his five-week-old baby who died after suffering broken neck
Kayleigh Driver and Michael Davis’ five-week-old baby, Ollie Davies, was found lifeless in a crib in their bedroom in Leicester
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A father has been found guilty of the murder of his baby who died after suffering a broken neck during a sequence of horrific abuse.
Five-week-old baby Ollie Davies was found lifeless in his bedroom in Leicester having suffered fractures to his skull, collar bone, both arms and the joints of all his limbs.
At Leicester Crown Court on Thursday, his father Michael Davis was found guilty of murder, after Ollie was discovered with more than 20 broken ribs.
Jurors cleared Ollie’s mother, Kayleigh Driver, of murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but the 29-year-old was found guilty of charges of causing or allowing the death of a child and causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical injury.
The jury was told how the baby suffered his injuries in the 10 days up to his death on 21 October 2017.
After being discovered in his crib in the bedroom he shared with Driver and Davis, he was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary where medical staff were unable to revive him.
Crown counsel Mr Jonas Hankin KC, prosecuting, told jurors that Ollie died from the delayed effects of a broken neck.
Before the trial, neither Driver, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last year, nor Davis had put forward an account of an accident or accidents to explain the injuries, Mr Hankin said.
Davis, 29, and Driver, 31, both of Upper Temple Walk, had denied any wrongdoing, each claiming they did not cause their son any physical harm.
Following the guilty verdict, Davis was remanded to custody ahead of sentencing, in which he will receive a mandatory life sentence.
Trial judge Mr Justice Cotter renewed Driver’s conditional bail following the verdicts and ordered that the 29-year-old, who appeared in court on a mobility scooter, should be sentenced alongside Davis on April 10.
DI Mark Parish said: “Today’s verdicts are the culmination of more than six years of police investigation and detailed medical examination by specialists.
“The determination and commitment from the investigation and prosecution team has been in vital in achieving today’s result. We never lost sight in how important it was to get justice for Ollie.”
DC Batstone added: “Davis and Driver have evaded justice since 2017 but will now be facing a lengthy sentence for their actions. Ollie was a defenceless newborn baby who was abused and ultimately killed by someone who should have protected and cared for him the most.
“I would like to thank all the witnesses who gave evidence in this trial and extend my heartfelt condolences to Ollie’s wider family who can hopefully take some comfort now we have finally got justice for Ollie.”