Overview
- A jury found 23-year-old Bradley Thomas guilty of murdering his three-month-old son after concluding the baby suffered catastrophic, irreversible brain injuries from forceful shaking and died three days later.
- Prosecutors showed video of the infant in distress and medical experts identified multiple intracranial bleeds that they said were inconsistent with a short fall from a knee.
- The court heard that Thomas initially told medics the baby had fallen and waited about 30 minutes to call emergency services while the child showed severe symptoms.
- Mr Justice Sheldon imposed the mandatory life sentence required for murder and set a minimum tariff of 14 years before Thomas can be considered for parole.
- Emmerson’s mother spoke in support of Thomas at trial and declined to give a victim statement, and investigators highlighted how clear video and specialist testimony can be decisive in abusive head trauma prosecutions.