Baby Death Trial: Stepfather Accused of Shaking Infant to Death

A stepfather has gone on trial accused of murdering his girlfriend's baby by shaking the infant violently "whilst angry and in temper". Thomas Morgan is alleged to have murdered five-month-old Jensen-Lee Dougal in Clydach in the Swansea Valley in March 2024. Thomas, aged 28, of Penyrheol Road, Gorseinon, denies murder and three counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and is on trial at Swansea Crown Court. Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC told jurors at the time of the baby’s death the defendant was in a relationship with the child’s mother and was in effect his stepfather and was entrusted with his care. For the latest court stories sign up to our crime newsletter. She said it was the prosecution case that on March 30, 2024, while alone with the baby and “whilst angry and in temper”, Morgan violently assaulted Jensen-Lee by shaking him with such force that the little boy suffered catastrophic brain injuries, numerous fractures, and extensive bleeding in both eyes. Ms Rees said Jensen-Lee was rushed to hospital in Cardiff but medics concluded the baby’s prospects were “dismal” and nothing could be done to save him. Jurors heard it was decided that life-supporting interventions should be withdrawn and the baby died in his mother’s arms on March 31. Ms Rees said it was Morgan's case that he did not assault Jensen-Lee and that on March 30 the baby was happy and healthy. The defendant claims he left the room to get a change of clothes for the baby and when he came back Jensen-Lee was “limp” and he performed CPR on the child. Ms Rees told the court the defendant denies the allegations of GBH, saying the child had been in the care of many other relatives. The jury heard from the prosecution how Morgan asked a neighbour for help before they started performing CPR. Paramedics were then called, the court heard. The prosecution then said when paramedics turned up, Jensen-Lee was "purple in colour" and that medics were concerned that the explanation of the baby choking did not fit his condition. In a police interview the defendant denied causing the injuries found on Jensen-Lee and said he only shook the baby to try to revive him when he found the infant unresponsive, the prosecution added. Ms Rees then told the court that Morgan told the police he could not call for an ambulance because the speaker on his phone was not working and that is why he had sought the help of a neighbour. The prosecution barrister told the jury: “With his [the defendant’s] temper raised and his fuse short, his temper must have snapped and he shook Jensen-Lee with such violence that he caused the devastating injuries that led to Jensen-Lee dying in his mother’s arms”. CCTV clips from March 29, 2024 played to members of the jury showed baby Jensen-Lee with his grandmother, Lucy O'Connor, at the Riverside caravan park clubhouse in Ynysforgan, Swansea. In the clips, Jensen-Lee was seen sitting on his grandmother's lap and responding to people at the clubhouse interacting with him. A text by Jensen-Lee's grandmother sent to his mother on the morning of March 30 shows the baby accompanied with a message that reads “Morning mummy love you xxxx”. Jordan responded with a message to her "handsome boy". The jury was then shown still photographs taken from CCTV at the Midland Hotel pub in Morriston at lunchtime on March 30, where Jensen-Lee's grandparents were meeting Morgan and Jordan O'Connor. The pictures showed Lucy O'Connor taking a picture of Jensen-Lee with his grandfather, Michael O'Connor, and the stills later showed the baby being passed between several members of the group including the defendant. The barrister said during his time at the pub Jensen-Lee “was seen to be very active” and to be independently moving his arms, legs and head. The trial, before Mrs Justice Stacey, is expected to last four weeks. The case continues.