Mother, 20, and father, 25, charged with murdering their baby

A mother and father are accused of killing their two-week-old child, and they have appeared in court.

At Yeovil District Hospital, Daniel Gunter, 25, and Sophie Staddon, 20, are charged with Brendon Staddon’s death.

On June 8, at around five in the morning, the two-week-old boy passed away at the hospital where he was a patient.

Gunter only spoke to confirm his name, date of birth, and residence when he appeared before Taunton Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.

In contrast, Staddon made an early appearance before the same court.
In addition, Brendon’s death has been accused of being caused by or permitted by both of the unnamed defendants.

The indictment states that they either killed Brendon or failed to shield him from a foreseeable “significant risk of serious physical harm” because they “were members of the same household as and had frequent contact” with him.

Regarding the two charges, neither defendant was asked to enter a plea.

Victoria McNiven, the presiding justice, informed Gunter that the crown court will handle this case.

According to Avon and Somerset Police, medical staff phoned the officers.

Not long after, the force’s main crime investigation unit opened an investigation.

‘This is an extremely unfortunate situation in which a very young baby has died, and our thoughts are with Brendon’s,’ Avon and Somerset Police Detective Inspector Mark Newbury said.

This week, we have been conducting investigations in the hospital, and we are appreciative of the support from the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and its personnel that has allowed us to accomplish this.

The next date of Gunter and Staddon’s appearance before Bristol Crown Court is june 10.