Inquest into death of Stanley baby killed by mother's partner is closed (From The Northern Echo)
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Inquest into death of Stanley baby killed by mother's partner is closed
12:33pm Tuesday 8th January 2013 in News
By Lizzie Anderson
AN inquest into the death of a baby boy shaken to death by his mother’s partner was closed today (December 8).
Richard Morgan, formerly of Owen Terrace, Tantobie, Stanley, County Durham, was convicted of the manslaughter of 13-month-old Slater Sharkey on December 19 and sentenced to seven-and-a-half-years in prison.
The conviction followed a four-week trial at Newcastle Crown Court, where it was heard the 33-year-old factory worker had forcefully shook Slater after becoming frustrated by his crying.
A post-mortem examination revealed about 25 bruises on the baby’s body and medical experts agreed the brain injury that caused his death on December 11 2010, must have been caused deliberately.
At the coroner’s court in Crook today (Tuesday, January 8), North Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle filled in the final paper work needed for Slater’s family to collect his death certificate.
No verdict was given due to the outcome of the court proceedings.
Slater’s 31-year-old mother Rachel Peacock, who was cleared in court of allowing her son’s death, was not present at inquest.
