Hunter Mathias collapsed and stopped breathing at his Barnsley home on Friday, November 30, 2018, shortly before 7.45 p.m. He died three days later in the hospital. He was nine weeks old at the time.
After a 13-week trial at Sheffield Crown Court, his father, Leon Mathias, was convicted of his son’s murder today (Monday, January 30).
The jury majority determined that Mathias, now 34, killed Hunter on purpose during a momentary loss of control while they were upstairs alone with the baby crying. Mathias then called Hunter’s mother, who was downstairs with a friend, to inform her that something was wrong.
The nine-week-old was taken to Barnsley District General Hospital, where doctors and nurses battled to save his life. They were unable to save him because his brain injury was so severe and his brain had swollen so much. Hunter died on Monday, December 3, 2018, at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Throughout the trial, the court heard from 14 medical experts about the injuries Hunter had sustained in his short life. At the time of his death, he had several fractures and bruising on his head.
This has been a protracted and complex investigation and trial, and I welcome the decision reached by the jury today,” said Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Mark Oughton, following the verdict today.
Mathias was arrested by detectives on December 5, 2018, before being bailed and rearrested on October 17, 2019. On 1 February 2021, he was charged with Hunter’s murder and Section 18 assault. During the interview, he said nothing.
We will never know exactly what happened during Hunter’s bath time on 30 November 2018; what we do know is that he suffered catastrophic injuries at the hands of his father. “I am relieved that justice was served today.”
Mathias was found guilty of murder by a vote of 10-2, but not of Section 18 assault. He will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday, February 2nd.
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