Parents ‘stepped outside for cigarettes’ while nurses tried to save their baby

The parents of two-week‑old Brendon Staddon have told jurors they left the hospital bedside to smoke just moments after medical staff discovered their infant son had suffered “catastrophic injuries.” Prosecutor Charles Row KC described the scene at Yeovil District Hospital’s special care baby unit, where nurses found Brendon cold in his cot with his outfit unfastened. They discovered his skull had been “shattered” along with fractures in his neck, jaw, arms, legs, ankles, and deep bruising and scratches all over his body .

Brendon, born prematurely on 20 February 2024, appeared to be recovering when the couple returned to the unit in the early hours of 5 March. Just after 4 a.m., his mother, Sophie Staddon, urged staff to check him because he felt cold. Nurses discovered the extent of his injuries and rushed to resuscitate him, but Brendon could not be saved. 

While the resuscitation efforts continued, the court heard that both parents stepped outside for a cigarette around 4:40 a.m. and remained away from their critically injured child, without asking for updates, until they were arrested smoking outside  .

The prosecution painted a distressing picture of the parents’ relationship. Daniel Gunter, 27, is described as controlling—limiting his partner’s finances, social interactions, smoking, and food intake—and occasionally violent. He allegedly questioned Brendon’s paternity and expressed disinterest in the baby, even prompting security intervention at the hospital due to staff concerns  .

Social workers had previously flagged both parents as lacking emotional warmth toward Brendon. In January 2024, they warned the couple that the baby might be removed from their care once born. The court was told they showed more concern about housing than about the safety of their newborn  .

During the trial, the court heard from experts who described Brendon’s injuries as akin to those caused by “falling from a high building” or being involved in a “complex road accident” — a deposition so brutal that it was likened to a cathode-ray TV falling on a baby’s head.

Both parents deny the charges of murder and causing or allowing Brendon’s death. The prosecution says crystal-clear that the infant suffered a fatal crush injury. The trial is scheduled to continue, with further testimony, including a site visit to the hospital’s SCBU, and a four-week trial anticipated.

What happens next:

The jury will consider whether the evidence demonstrates either parent directly inflicted the injuries or allowed Brendon’s death through neglect.

Expert witnesses, including pathologists and child welfare professionals, will detail the nature of Brendon’s injuries and parenting concerns.

The verdict hinges on proving beyond reasonable doubt that the parents’ actions (or inaction) caused or directly contributed to the baby’s death.