Parents remanded in custody accused of murdering premature baby

The parents of a two-week-old baby have been remanded in custody accused of murdering him in hospital.

Daniel Gunter, 25, and Sophie Staddon, 20, are accused of killing baby Brendon Staddon at Yeovil District Hospital in Somerset on March 5 this year.

Both defendants, of no fixed address, have also been charged with causing or allowing Brendon’s death.

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 a 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 due to be carried out 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.

Avon and Somerset Police previously said officers were called to the hospital by staff and an investigation was launched by the force’s major crime investigation team.