Father admits shaking his baby to death

Apr 22 2008 by Sam Wonfor, The Journal

A FATHER is facing jail after admitting killing his baby daughter by shaking her in a sudden loss of control.

Gary Allen, 25, pleaded guilty yesterday to the manslaughter of five-month-old Elisha Allen, who died from head injuries in January last year.

The child’s mother Claire Louise Morton, 30, admitted the lesser offence of causing or allowing the death of a child between August 2006 and January 2007.

Both had denied murder and their pleas to the alternative counts were acceptable to the prosecution, Newcastle Crown Court heard yesterday.

Prosecutor Paul Sloan QC said: “Up until very recently, both defendants had denied responsibility for causing the fatal injuries sustained by Elisha.

“However, about a fortnight ago, Gary Allen finally admitted responsibility lay with him for the infliction of the fatal injuries.

“He admits as a result of a sudden loss of control, he caused Elisha’s death by shaking her and that shaking clearly involved an impact as well.

“He denies at that moment he formed an intention to cause a really serious bodily injury.

“The Crown take the view in all the circumstances, a plea of guilty to manslaughter on the basis of a sudden loss of control is acceptable.”

The court heard Morton’s plea to the lesser charge is on the basis she was subjected to violence at the hands of Allen and was in fear of him at the time of the offence.

The couple were living together in Marigold Crescent, Bournmoor, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, when their daughter was admitted to Sunderland Royal Hospital on January 21 last year with head injuries.

Elisha was transferred to Newcastle General Hospital, where she remained on a life support machine until her death three days later.

Allen, now of Torrens Road, Thorney Close, Sunderland, and Morton, now of Pinewood Street, Fencehouses, near Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, were charged after an eight-month police investigation.

Allen was remanded back into custody and Morton further given conditional bail after sentence was adjourned until June 6 for reports.

Conditions of Morton’s bail include not to contact Allen and reporting weekly to the police.