Parents remanded in custody accused of premature baby murder in Yeovil
Two month old Brendan Staddon died at Yeovil Hospital last Tuesday (March 5th)
Last updated 11th Mar 2024
The parents of a two-week-old baby have been remanded in custody accused of murdering him in a Somerset hospital.
Brendon Staddon died with a suspected skull fracture at Yeovil Hospital last Tuesday.
Daniel Gunter, aged 25, and 20-year-old Sophie Staddon - are also accused of causing or allowing the death of a child. That charge alleges that "being a member of the same household as and having had frequent contact" with Brendon, they either caused his death or did not protect him from a foreseeable "significant risk of serious physical harm".
The pair were excused attendance from the short hearing at Bristol Crown Court.
Robert Yates, prosecuting, told the court the initial indications were that Brendon had died from a "significant fracture to the skull" while an inpatient in the neo-natal unit. He had been born premature two weeks previously and was "progressing well", Mr Yates said. A post-mortem examination was scheduled to be undertaken later.
Rupert Morgan-Jones, representing Staddon, and Lucy Taylor, representing Gunter, did not apply for bail.
Judge William Hart fixed a pre-trial and preparation hearing for April 5 and remanded the defendants into custody. No trial date was fixed but it is likely to be heard by a High Court judge.