Father, 26, is found guilty of murdering his eight-week-old son after shaking ... trends now
A father has been found guilty of murdering his eight-week-old baby boy after violently shaking him.
Oliver Mailey, 26, shook his son Abel-Jax on at least two separate occasions before a fateful incident on November 27, 2021, when Mailey shook his baby with the ‘force of a car accident’.
When Abel went limp and stopped breathing. Mailey, of Burnley,Lancashire, rang the child's mother, Mollie Gorton, and her cousin, before calling an ambulance.
Abel was taken to Blackburn Royal Hospital but later transferred to Manchester Children’s Hospital where his life support was withdrawn on November 30.
Mailey has now been convicted of murder following a trial at Preston Crown Court.
Oliver Mailey, 26, denied murdering his son but admitting causing the fatal head injuries in court. He has now been convicted of murder after a trial
Mailey and his partner Mollie were arrested on suspicion of GBH, and later murder.
However, Mailey insisted the baby had gone floppy following a feed and denied having any involvement in Abel’s death. He allowed Abel’s heartbroken mum to face investigation, knowing it was his fault their son had collapsed.
On the first day of the trial at Preston Crown Court, Mailey confessed he had shaken Abel on another occasion, around a week before he died.
He claimed he did not know the child would be seriously injured. He also admitted shaking Abel ‘in a moment of madness’ when he would not stop crying on November 27.
However his partner Mollie and the family’s health visitor confirmed they had been warned of the dangers of shaking during a visit to the home for a routine during the week between the two shaking incidents.
Mailey will be sentenced tomorrow morning.
Mailey says he did not intend to hurt or harm his son, eight-week-old Abel-Jax, seen here, who later died of injuries as a result of being shaken
Giving evidence earlier in the trial, Mailey said he was 'buzzing' when he learned he was going to be a father.
Tests in a previous relationship confirmed he had a low sperm count and he did not believe he could have children.
When his partner Mollie Gorton fell pregnant five months into their relationship, Mailey said he questioned the baby's paternity, due to his medical history.
However, he said once he realised his partner was telling the truth he was
