Shropshire Star

Telford baby murder case jury still considering verdicts

A jury will continue considering its verdict in the case of a married couple from Telford accused of the murder of their 11-month-old baby son.

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Paul Thomas, 29, a builder, and Ashlea Thomas, 20, a nursery nurse, both formerly of Priory Way, St Georges, but now of Dalford Court, Hollinswood, deny killing Oliver Sargent.

The tragic tot was rushed to Telford's Princess Royal Hospital on July 27, 2012, after his father made a frantic 999 call to West Midlands Ambulance Service to say he had collapsed and stopped breathing.

Oliver was later transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital, but died four days later after the collapse, with scans revealing injuries including bleeding on the brain and eyes and fractures to his skull, ribs and collarbone.

The couple also deny an alternative charge to murder of causing a child's death by not recognising there was a risk of significant harm by a member of the household between July 27 and July 31, 2012.

Both also face a charge of abusing, ill-treating, abandoning or neglecting Oliver in a manner likely to cause harm between March 12 and July 26, 2012. They deny all charges against them and insist they never harmed Oliver in any way.

The jury was expected to reconvene on Wednesday morning to continue its discussions.

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