In the UK, a father has been convicted of killing his six-month-old son, who prosecutors alleged was subjected to shaking and physical abuse before his death.
David Hollick, 29, pleaded not guilty to murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter concerning the passing of his baby son, Kairo Jax Hollick, who succumbed to a non-survivable brain injury at Birmingham Children’s Hospital on February 12, 2020, after enduring days of maltreatment.
A jury composed of 10 women and two men deliberated for approximately 20 hours before reaching a verdict on Monday afternoon, finding Hollick, of Primley Avenue, Walsall, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a majority of 11 to one.
During the trial, it emerged that Hollick’s former partner, Adina Johnson, had left their son with him as usual on February 7 for the weekend. While Kairo had a cold at the time, Johnson had no other concerns about his well-being.
Hollick was residing in the conservatory at his parents’ residence due to limited bedroom space after returning to live with them following the end of his relationship with Ms. Johnson.
The court was informed that Hollick attempted to contact Johnson at 4:30 a.m. on February 9, prompting him to message her about Kairo’s condition. The last person to see Kairo alive was Hollick’s brother James, who observed them sleeping in the conservatory around midnight.
Medical evidence presented during the trial revealed that Kairo had suffered multiple injuries, including skull fractures and a fractured arm, while under his father’s care on February 9. Prosecutors asserted that Kairo had been subjected to violent shaking and blunt force trauma by Hollick.
Following the incident, Hollick sought assistance from his father when he found Kairo unresponsive, claiming he had attempted to rouse him from sleep. Despite medical efforts, Kairo’s condition deteriorated, and he was pronounced dead at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Throughout the trial, Hollick maintained that Kairo’s injuries may have resulted from an accidental fall while he was carrying him. Despite medical interventions, Kairo’s injuries proved fatal, and he passed away while being cradled by his mother.
In a tribute released through West Midlands Police after Hollick’s conviction, Ms Johnson said: ‘It has been four years since we lost Kairo and our hearts are still as broken as the day he was so cruelly taken from us.
‘He deserved to be safe in the care of his father and he deserved to still be here today. We are devastated to learn of the sheer brutality inflicted on Kairo and it will haunt our family for the rest of our days.
‘Kai was the light of our lives and the embodiment of innocence and without him we are broken.
‘We hope now after all of this time that he can finally rest. We will grieve him forever.
‘We would like to send thanks to medical staff at both Walsall Manor Hospital and Birmingham Children’s ICU for caring for Kairo with such dignity and respect in his final days.
‘My family and I would also like to thank DC Donna Kenny, our family liaison officer and the entire investigation team for the hard work, constant support and guidance over the past four years. We would also like to thank both prosecuting barristers.
‘They have all helped us find some closure in what has been the most tragic of circumstances that any family could imagine.’
