Overview
- A three-month-old, Emmerson Oak Thomas, was taken to hospital after becoming unresponsive and was pronounced dead on October 8, 2025, following life‑support being withdrawn.
- Pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton told the jury that Emmerson’s death resulted from blunt head injury caused by vigorous shaking, citing massive brain swelling, brain bleeding and spinal haemorrhage.
- Consultant paediatric pathologist Dr Jo McPartland said the pattern of multilayer retinal haemorrhages was characteristic of abusive head trauma and not consistent with an accidental fall.
- Hospital clinicians gave evidence that CT scans showed bleeding and swelling on the brain, and footage shown to the court captured unusual arm movements that a doctor said resembled a seizure; the defendant denies the murder charge and offers alternative explanations.
- A Cleveland Police detective said officers seized cannabis and related paraphernalia from the home, and the trial at Teesside Crown Court is continuing as the jury weighs expert testimony and scene evidence.