Dad denies murdering baby after night out

A father has denied murdering his four-week-old son after a night out.

Tony Bartlett, of Axminster in Devon, is accused of shaking his son Atticus to death at home in Chard, Somerset, on 16 July 2022 after a night out with his partner. Atticus died in hospital seven days later.

Bartlett, 39, is on trial at Bristol Crown Court charged with manslaughter and murder. He denies both charges.

Giving evidence, Bartlett told the jury: "I have said from the start, if I had done it, I would have said so from the start."

Prosecuting, Charles Row KC asked Bartlett whether he had caused the fatal injuries to his son.

Bartlett replied: "No, I did not."

Row asked Bartlett if he had immediately regretted what he had done.

Bartlett replied: "I didn't do it, so I never regretted anything."

The court previously heard that the evening of the alleged assault was the first time since Atticus' birth that the couple had been on a night out to the pub and comedy club together.

Bartlett told the jury that he had drunk up to nine pints of beer, but that alcohol "doesn't affect his temper whatsoever".

Upon returning home, the baby's mother, Evelyn Ballentyne, was upstairs while Bartlett fed the child.

It is the prosecution's case that while Ballentyne was upstairs, Bartlett violently shook Atticus so hard he caused severe internal injuries to his brain and spinal cord.

Several of Atticus's ribs were also cracked, Row told the jury.

Paediatric neurosurgeon Amedeo Calisto, who examined the baby's injuries, previously told the court that Atticus' injuries were consistent with a fall from a height or a road traffic collision.

Atticus was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital by ambulance and later transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

However, his brain damage was so severe that Atticus never breathed for himself again and did not regain consciousness.

He died just before midnight on 23 July 2022.

The trial continues.

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