A mother has described the harrowing moment she found her four-week-old son 'limp and grey' after his father allegedly shook him while drunk on nine pints of beer. Atticus Bartlett tragically died in hospital after collapsing at the family home in Chard, Somerset, on 16 July 2022.
Mother's Testimony
Evelyn Ballentyne, the mother of Atticus, testified in the trial of his father, Tony Bartlett, at Bristol Crown Court. Bartlett, 39, denies charges of murder and manslaughter. The prosecution claims that Bartlett violently shook Atticus while they were alone together, causing fatal brain injuries.
Ms Ballentyne told the jury how she descended the stairs and heard Atticus make 'two gasping noises'. She said: 'If you have ever watched someone pass away, towards the end of their life, they make funny noises and that's what he did. I then stared at Atticus for a couple of seconds and you could just tell that he had gone grey. He was dead. I don't know if I said 'he's dead' or 'he's not breathing'. I screamed.'
She described how Atticus had been lying face down on his father's knees and Bartlett 'flipped' him over. 'Atticus's head just flopped back, he wasn't alive,' she told the court. She sobbed as she recalled how Atticus's body was limp when turned onto his back. 'I just screamed and ran out of the house. I thought I rang 999 but I didn't.'
Prosecution's Case
Prosecutor Charles Row KC asked Ms Ballentyne how often she had reflected on the events of that night. She broke down and responded: 'All the time.' The court heard that Ms Ballentyne had previously stated she had lifted Atticus up and gently shaken him to try to wake him, but she informed the jury this wasn't accurate. 'My memory is very clear now of that night,' she added.
Acting for Bartlett, Nigel Power KC suggested Ms Ballentyne had attempted to 'minimise' her actions – which she rejected. He questioned her: 'Tony didn't do anything to harm Atticus, did he?' Ms Ballentyne responded: 'Yes he did.'
Background
Atticus had been looked after by his grandmother, Rachel Donovan, and her husband Andrew earlier that evening, while Bartlett and Ms Ballentyne visited a pub and comedy club. Mr Row had previously informed the jury that Bartlett had allegedly drunk up to nine pints of beer and was left to feed Atticus while his partner went upstairs to get changed at around 11pm. He claimed that while Ms Ballentyne was upstairs, Bartlett violently shook Atticus so forcefully he inflicted serious internal injuries to his brain and spinal cord.
Multiple ribs belonging to Atticus were also fractured, Mr Row informed the jury. Following Ms Ballentyne raising the alarm, neighbours and paramedics arrived at the property. Atticus was transported to Musgrove Park Hospital by ambulance and subsequently moved to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. Yet, his brain damage was so extensive that Atticus never managed to breathe independently again and failed to regain consciousness. He passed away shortly before midnight on July 23 2022.
Bartlett, from Axminster, Devon, refutes both allegations. The trial continues.
