Derbyshire stepfather found guilty of murdering 10-month-old son
Jacob Crouch was pronounced dead at his family home in Linton on 30th December 2020
Last updated 2nd Aug 2023
A stepfather has been found guilty of murdering his 10-month-old son.
Jacob Crouch was pronounced dead at a home in Linton on the 30th December 2020. He was found to have dozens of bruises and internal injuries.
After his death - a post mortem revealed he had suffered at least 39 rib fractures.
39-year-old Craig Crouch, (who was listed on Jacob's birth certificate as his father)denied murder, causing or allowing the death of a child, causing a child to suffer serious physical harm and three counts of child cruelty.
Gemma Barton, Jacob's mother, was also charged with murder but the jury found her not guilty.
The 33-year-old was convicted of allowing or causing a child to die and two counts of child cruelty.
During the trial, Barton told Derby Crown Court that she did not inflict the injuries that killed her son, nor did she see them inflicted by anyone else.
As well as denying ever harming her son, Barton said she "can't remember seeing" any of the 19 visible bruises on Jacob's body at the time of his death.
The trial previously heard from medical experts that blunt force trauma was the only plausible explanation for the bowel injury, which led to a fatal infection.
Barton, of Heanor, and Crouch, of Moira, will be sentenced on Friday.