Christopher Stockton, 38, has been convicted of the murder of little Charlie Roberts who died aged just 22 months.
Little Charlie died in January this year. On January 12 he had been left by his mother Paula Roberts in Stockton’s sole care when he suffered catastrophic injuries including to his brain.
The jury accepted the prosecution argument that Charlie may have been “shaken or thrown with considerable force” prior to his death – and that the fatal injuries would only have been inflicted after Roberts left.
Stockton, of Darlington, was also found guilty by a jury of child cruelty. He had denied both charges.
At Teesside Crown Court before judge Mr Justice James Goss, the jury agreed and returned two unanimous guilty verdicts on Tuesday afternoon. Stockton has been remanded in custody and will face sentencing in the New Year – though the judge emphasised that given the murder conviction, he would face a life sentence.
Last Tuesday, Paula Roberts, Charlie’s mother, admitted a charge of child cruelty against her son, too. She had been standing trial alongside Stockton. The pair will be sentenced at the same hearing on a later date, which is yet to be fixed, and is subject to the court receiving a pre-sentence report into her mental health.
Mr Justice Goss told Stockton: “You have been convicted by a jury of the offence of murder. You will be sentenced to imprisonment for life but I have to fix the minimum term you must serve before you can be considered for release on license by the parole board. I shall not pass sentence on you today.”
Earlier in the weeks-long trial, the jury heard how Charlie may have been “shaken or thrown with considerable force” before his death. Earlier in the trial, the jury heard from prosecutors how: “Within a very short time, Christopher Stockton was to make a 999 call, wanting an ambulance. According to him, for no good reason.
“Charlie had become lifeless and floppy. He spoke of how Charlie had appeared to be choking on something. He can’t have been.”
The lifeless tot was rushed to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, but he did not regain consciousness and died the next day.
Charlie – who may have sustained his head injury after being “shaken” – was 22-months-old when he tragically died and was also found to have previously sustained injuries to his ear and penis. Previously, the jury heard evidence from Dr Deborah Stalker, an expert paediatrician and specialist in child protection, who spoke about some of the injuries that Charlie had.
The jury heard that Roberts claimed Charlie would “sleep-walk” and that the ear injury could have occurred from a fall. But Dr Stalker told the court this was “not plausible”.
Stockton and Roberts are not likely to be sentenced until at least mid-January.
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/darlington-man-christopher-stockton-found-30555824
