'Drunk dad drank 8.5 pints of Stella and killed newborn baby' - court hears
'Drunk dad drank 8.5 pints of Stella and killed newborn baby' - court hears
Jurors heard the fatal attack on Atticus Bartlett may have been 'over in seconds'
Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied
Add us as preferred source By Rebecca Perring, Jon King, News Reporter 15:48, Wed, Jul 1, 2026 Updated: 16:37, Wed, Jul 1, 2026 
A father killed his four-week-old baby by shaking him in a moment of “pure violence”, a jury has heard. Atticus Bartlett died in hospital after collapsing at his family home in Chard, Somerset, on July 16, 2022. His father, Tony Bartlett, 39, is on trial at Bristol Crown Court charged with murder and manslaughter. Prosecution barrister Charles Row KC gave his closing speech in the case on Wednesday (July 1).
Mr Row told jurors the fatal attack on Atticus may have been “over in seconds”. He said: "He was killed because this defendant, drunk and frustrated, tragically used unlawful and significant force against his own son."
- ‘Migrant Street’ asylum seekers already desperate to leave £250k home – 'too isolated'
- Keir Starmer just eyed up his next job - it would be a complete joke if he got it
The barrister added: "This isn’t a case about premeditation. It is a case about intent formed at the moment. It is about the force that must have been deliberately applied to Atticus.
“The loss of temper and frustration may have been brief. It was almost certainly fuelled by those 8.5 pints of Stella. Mr Bartlett shook his infant son with force sufficient to kill him. This wasn’t an accident – it wasn’t a slip, it wasn’t rough handling.
“It was deliberate application of force to a child who could not defend himself. The fact Mr Bartlett was drunk is no excuse.”
During the trial, jurors have heard how Bartlett and his partner Evelyn Ballentyne had gone to a pub and comedy club for their first evening out since Atticus’s birth.
Ms Ballentyne’s mother, Rachel Donovan, and her husband Andrew, came to the family’s home in Darcis Row, Chard, to care for Atticus while his parents were out.
Over the course of the evening, postman Bartlett downed eight and a half pints of beer before returning home with Ms Ballentyne.
He was left alone to feed Atticus in the living room while Ms Ballentyne went upstairs to change at about 11pm.
Mr Row said Atticus was difficult to feed and it could sometimes take as long as an hour.
Describing Bartlett, Mr Row said: "He would have been disinhibited and therefore more cavalier in his handling of Atticus. He would have been potentially less tolerant, less patient, less able to control his temper and frustration.”
It is alleged that, while Ms Ballentyne was upstairs, Bartlett violently shook Atticus so hard that he caused severe internal injuries to the baby’s brain and spinal cord.
Mr Row told the jury that Atticus had three rib fractures that could not be attributed to resuscitation efforts.
Giving evidence, Ms Ballentyne described how she had come downstairs and heard her baby son, who was lying on his front on Bartlett’s legs, making two loud gasps as if he was dying.
Get top stories from The Express sent straight to your phone Join us on WhatsAppOur community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Mr Row said: "Mr Bartlett can’t admit to himself that when he was drunk, in a moment of pure violence, he did something that he will regret for the rest of his life."
Emergency services attended the property and Atticus was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital before being transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
His brain damage was so severe that he did not regain consciousness or breathe for himself.
Atticus died just before midnight on July 23, 2022.
Bartlett, of Axminster, Devon, denies the two charges against him. The trial continues.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
