Man guilty of murdering 9-week-old son in Barnsley
Hunter Mathias collapsed and stopped breathing at his home in Barnsley in November 2018
A man's been found guilty of murdering his nine-week-old son in Barnsley.
Hunter Mathias collapsed and stopped breathing on the 30th November 2018- three days later he died in hospital.
After a 13-week trial the jury determined Leon Mathias, who's 34, had deliberately killed Hunter in a momentary loss of control, when they were upstairs alone and the baby was crying.
Mathias then alerted Hunter’s mum who was sat downstairs with a friend, that something was wrong.
The nine-week-old was taken to Barnsley District General Hospital where hospital staff fought to resuscitate him. However, his brain injury was so severe, and his brain had swollen so significantly, they were unable to save him. Hunter died in Sheffield Children’s Hospital on Monday 3 December 2018.
The court heard from 14 medical experts about Hunter's injuries. He had a number of fractures and bruising to his head at the time of his death.
Speaking after today’s verdict, Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Mark Oughton said: “This has been a protracted and complex investigation and trial, and I welcome the decision reached by the jury today.
Mathias was first arrested by detectives on 5 December 2018 before being bailed and rearrested on Thursday 17 October 2019. He was later charged with Hunter’s murder and Section 18 assault on 1 February 2021. He provided ‘no comment’ in interview.
“We will never know exactly what happened during Hunter’s bath time on 30 November 2018; what we do know is that he suffered catastrophic injuries at the hands of his father. I am pleased justice has been served today.”
Mathias was found guilty of murder by a 10-2 majority verdict, and not guilty of Section 18 assault.
He's due back at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday (2nd February) for sentencing.