‘Nothing short of grotesque’ were the words used by the judge today (Thursday 2 February) as she handed a life sentence to Leon Mathias for murdering his baby son, Hunter, in November 2018.
Mathias, 34, was found to have deliberately killed his young baby when he was alone with the nine-week old during bath time.
Her Ladyship Mrs Justice Lambert described Mathias’s actions as ‘truly horrifying and difficult to comprehend’ as she ordered him to spend at least 16 years behind bars before he could be considered for parole.
Hunter collapsed and stopped breathing at his home in Barnsley, shortly before 7.45pm on 30 November. Three days later he died in hospital.
The nine-week-old was taken to Barnsley District General Hospital where hospital staff fought to resuscitate him. However, his brain injury was so severe, and his brain had swollen so significantly, they were unable to save him. Hunter died in Sheffield Children’s Hospital on Monday 3 December 2018.
Mathias’s trial concluded at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday (30 January), where a majority jury found him guilty of murder. Throughout the course of the trial, the court heard from a total of 14 medical experts about the injuries Hunter had suffered in his short life. He had a number of fractures and bruising to his head at the time of his death.
Looking back on the inquiry, senior investigating officer, DCI Mark Oughton said: “My team and I have been fighting for justice for Hunter for over four years, and I am incredibly pleased that the sentence passed today reflects the horror of Mathias’s actions.”
The investigation team were commended by the judge today for their efforts in this very complex case.
Mathias, of Stonebridge Lane, was first arrested by detectives on 5 December 2018 before being bailed and rearrested on Thursday 17 October 2019. He was later charged with Hunter’s murder and Section 18 assault on 1 February 2021. He provided ‘no comment’ in interview.
Following the jury’s decision on Monday, DCI Oughton said: “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.”
