A Somerset man has been found guilty of brutally killing his two-week-old premature son inside a hospital’s neonatal unit, in a crime that left even seasoned detectives shaken.
Daniel Gunter, 27, was convicted of murdering baby Brendon Staddon at Yeovil District Hospital in the early hours of March 5, 2024, by violently shattering the infant’s skull and breaking his neck—just metres from where nurses were on duty.
Medical experts said Brendon’s injuries were akin to those sustained in a fall from a tall building. Yet the assault was carried out so swiftly and silently that staff nearby were unaware of the horror unfolding.
Brendon had been born seven weeks early and was being treated in the special care baby unit. Despite multiple warnings from staff about Gunter’s behavior—including mishandling the baby, tampering with medical equipment, and displaying aggressive outbursts—no intervention prevented the attack.
‘Almost Impossible to Imagine’
“This is one of the most horrifying cases I’ve seen in over two decades,” said Detective Chief Inspector Nadine Partridge of Avon and Somerset Police, describing the scale of violence inflicted on the tiny baby. In addition to skull and neck fractures, Brendon had broken legs, ankles, wrists, and severe bruising all over his body.
“You don’t want to imagine what happened to him in those final moments,” Partridge said, adding that Gunter may have twisted and slammed Brendon’s body against a hard surface.
After the attack, both Gunter and Brendon’s mother, Sophie Staddon, 21, left the ward for a cigarette while medical staff battled to save the infant’s life. Neither parent returned nor inquired about the baby’s condition.
Mother Acquitted, Father Awaiting Sentence
Sophie Staddon was acquitted of causing or allowing the death of her son. Prosecutors had argued she should have known Brendon was at risk given Gunter’s violent and controlling behavior, but the jury found her not guilty.
Gunter, however, was found guilty of murder. He showed no emotion as the verdict was delivered, and reportedly laughed and joked in the courtroom during the trial.
In court, it emerged that the couple had been living in temporary housing—a converted pub—when Sophie became pregnant. Social services were already involved and had warned them that Brendon might be taken into care after birth due to concerns over Gunter’s history of domestic abuse and his controlling behavior. He had previously been cautioned for assaulting a former partner and was described by nurses as intimidating and erratic.
A child safeguarding practice review is now underway to investigate whether Brendon’s death could have been prevented, and to assess the actions of social services and hospital staff.
‘He Will Never Be Replaced’
Brendon’s grandfather, Simon Gunter, issued a heart-wrenching statement after the verdict:
“Brendon was born early and was so tiny, but so beautiful… We’ve been robbed of his life. We’ll never see his first steps, hear his first words, or watch him grow up. He will never be replaced.”
Simon added that while the verdict offered some justice, the family is still left with painful questions and a lifetime of loss.
Hospital Unit Under Scrutiny
Following the tragedy, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust confirmed its participation in the ongoing child safeguarding review and expressed sympathy for the family.
“This has been an incredibly distressing case about the murder of a vulnerable baby while under our care,” a spokesperson said.
In May, the hospital’s special care baby unit was temporarily shut down after a damning report by the Care Quality Commission cited urgent safety concerns and the need for “significant improvement” in paediatric care.
Daniel Gunter will be sentenced at a later date.
