Teen found guilty of murder of ex-partner's four-month-old who suffered 'catastrophic' brain injuries

11 July 2024, 14:24 | Updated: 11 July 2024, 15:57

A teenager has been found guilty of murder after shaking his partner's four-month-old baby to death.
A teenager has been found guilty of murder after shaking his partner's four-month-old baby to death. Picture: PA

By Emma Soteriou

A teenager has been found guilty of the murder of his ex-partner's four-month-old who suffered "catastrophic" brain injuries and bone fractures.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Carl Alesbrook, now aged 19, was found guilty at Derby Crown Court of murdering his ex-partner's four-month-old son Elijah Shemwell.

He caused bleeding on the brain, whiplash-type injuries and multiple bone fractures to Elijah seven weeks after meeting the child's mother, India Shemwell, in November 2021.

Alesbrook, of Upper Greenhill Gardens, Matlock, denied causing any harm to Elijah but was unanimously convicted of both murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent by the jury on Thursday.

Medical evidence presented to a five-week-trial showed Elijah suffered brain damage from being shaken on at least three separate occasions, including New Year's Day and January 2, 2022, as well as 17 bruises around his chest, back and stomach consistent with grip marks.

He also suffered rib and limb fractures, while his fatal head injuries were described in court as "catastrophic".

Alesbrook told the court that he looked after Elijah alone while Shemwell was working away from her home in Acorn Drive, Belper, Derbyshire.

Read more: Teenager charged with four-month-old boy's murder as mother accused of child cruelty

Carl Alesbrook
Carl Alesbrook. Picture: PA

The court was told that days before Elijah was rushed to hospital on January 2, Alesbrook sent a Snapchat message to Shemwell calling her baby a "c***", but he denied being "unduly angered or irritated" by the child.

Shemwell, who was aged 21 at the time but is now 23, has admitted to two counts of child cruelty, including the fact that she did not dial emergency services more quickly after Elijah became unwell.

She sent a video of Elijah unresponsive with a floppy arm to friends on Facebook to ask for advice on his condition on January 1, the court heard.

CCTV shown to Alesbrook's trial showed Shemwell visiting a shop on the night of the fatal assault.

Jurors were told Shemwell also filmed video of Elijah struggling to breathe before she dialled 999 at 10.33pm on January 2, leading to him being taken by paramedics to Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

He died three days later on January 5.

Shemwell was described during her ex-partner's trial as "a thoroughly inadequate mother" who both generally and specifically neglected Elijah and failed to seek prompt medical attention for him on both January 1 and 2.

Prosecutor Vanessa Marshall KC told the jury trying Alesbrook: "Whilst the prosecution heavily criticise Miss Shemwell for this neglect towards Elijah, it is not the prosecution's case that she caused any of the injuries."

Ms Marshall continued: "The prosecution is confident that a careful review of the evidence in this case puts this defendant alone with Elijah moments before the critical incidents... so as to make it inexplicable on the basis of coincidence that it was not this defendant who was responsible for causing Elijah's injuries and death."

India Shemwell
India Shemwell. Picture: PA

At the start of the trial it was alleged that Shemwell's sexual relationship with her baby's father, who she was separated from, may have caused Alesbrook "some understandable frustration at the uncertainty of the status of his relationship" with her.

The prosecution also alleged that a toothache suffered by Alesbrook at the time caused him to "lose his temper" with Elijah.

Carl Alesbrook and India Shemwell will be sentenced on a date to be fixed for their parts in Elijah's death and neglect.

Adjourning the case, High Court Judge Mr Justice Jeremy Baker excused the members of the jury from jury service for the next 10 years.

Opting not to order pre-sentence reports, the judge said of Alesbrook: "I know something of his background, which on any view is relatively sad."

He then told Alesbrook, who faces a mandatory life term: "There is only one sentence that can be imposed but part of that sentence will be a determination of the minimum term that you will have to serve."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Mr White took his own life after the heist.

Getaway car ‘fixer' found guilty of plotting £1.38m watch robbery that led shop manager to take his own life

The 56-year-old was arrested and charged with attempted burglary.

Burglar jailed after falling for 'Home Alone' style trap

Raducanu was seen wiping away her tears

Emma Raducanu breaks silence after 'fixated man' who followed her to game brings tennis star to tears

Donald Trump has branded Zelenskyy a "dictator."

Trump labels Zelenskyy a ‘dictator,' says he owes US billions and only wants to keep the ‘gravy train’ going

Eating cheese

Eating cheese and having an open fire are factors to living a long life, study shows

Russia's President Vladimir Putin said thousands of troops have crossed the Kursk border into Ukrainian territory.

Thousands of troops storm into Ukraine in fresh attack, Russia claims as Putin insists he’s ready for talks with Zelesnkyy

'Zombie knives' at a secure police location in Birmingham.

Police chief slams sale of knives for £10 in online ‘mystery boxes’

Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

Chinese tourist village slammed for using fake snow to draw in visitors

Former Chief Whip Simon Hart has revealed details of a call from a Tory MP who asked to be saved from a brothel.

Former Chief Whip shares desperate call from Tory MP who 'needed saving from brothel with KGB agent and CCTV'

Tesco app and website.

Tesco app and website reporting issues, leaving customers unable to do online shopping

Exclusive
A graphic depiction of Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, the two documentary makers behind the project are now facing criticism over the children featured.

BBC has 'serious questions to answer' over claims Gaza documentary features Hamas leader's son, says Jon Sopel

Charlotte Peet has gone missing in Brazil.

Father of Brit journalist missing in Brazil breaks silence as he reveals moment daughter's 'trail went cold'

Avoriaz is a French mountain resort

Brit skier, 23, found dead beneath French Alps cliff after 'plunging 260ft on return from night out'

Austrian police arrest teenager over 'attack at railway station'

Isis supporting boy, 14, 'who planned attack at railway station' held by Austrian police

Janice Nix is charged with manslaughter over the death of five-year-old Andrea Bernard in 1978

Woman, 66, appears in court charged with manslaughter of five-year-old who died after scalding bath

Davi Nunes Moreira, of Planalto, Brazil, passed away seven days after injecting a solution made from a crushed butterfly into his leg.

Boy who injected himself with crushed butterfly for 'online challenge' suffered week of agonising symptoms before death