A man has been convicted of killing his teenage girlfriend’s infant son by violently shaking him in a fit of rage.
Kieran Humphreys, 33, was entrusted with caring for six-month-old Archie after just one week of dating Saskia Woodbridge. Woodbridge left her son in Humphreys’ care at a friend’s residence in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, to visit a nail salon on February 9 last year. Luton Crown Court heard that Humphreys, who had spent the previous night playing Call Of Duty on his Xbox, forcefully shook the baby, causing a fatal brain injury when he lost control.
Instead of seeking immediate medical help, the defendant took Archie, who had sustained severe brain trauma and broken ribs, to a relative’s house. Bedfordshire Police stated that Humphreys violently shook Archie, resulting in the tragic loss of the baby’s life at the hands of someone entrusted to care for him.
In a heartfelt tribute, Archie’s mother, Ms. Woodbridge, 20, expressed her grief, stating, “Archie entered this world prematurely by two months. He fought bravely for his life in his early weeks. Despite Kieran’s claims of affection for Archie, his actions proved otherwise. Kieran callously took Archie from this world in a despicable act.”
She continued, “All my life, my greatest desire was to become a mother. Archie granted me that wish. However, Kieran has cruelly taken away the most precious part of my life. I once told Kieran that I couldn’t fathom the pain of losing a child. Sadly, his actions have made that unimaginable agony a reality.”
“Humphreys was convicted by a jury of murdering a child under one and child cruelty, having already admitted to perverting the course of justice. Sentencing will take place at a later date.”