Teen Found Guilty of Shaking Baby to Death
A 16-year-old boy has been convicted of murdering a four-month-old baby by violently shaking him. Elijah Shemwell died on 5 January 2022 after being found pale, limp, and drowsy in his mother’s Derbyshire home.
Carl Alesbrook’s Shocking Crime
Carl Alesbrook, now 19 but just 16 at the time, was looking after Elijah alone while his mother went shopping. The court heard he was in a relationship with Elijah’s mother, India Shemwell. Despite Alesbrook’s denial, jurors found him guilty after a 10-hour deliberation at derby/" title="Derby" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Derby Crown Court.
Elijah suffered catastrophic brain injury, along with bruises, fractured ribs, and broken limbs. Prosecutors revealed Alesbrook had been smoking cannabis and became angry when the baby cried. This led him to shake Elijah violently, causing fatal injuries. Disturbingly, he had also inflicted rib and limb fractures on the child days before.
Mother Admits Neglect But Not Blame for Injuries
India Shemwell, 23, has pleaded guilty to neglect charges after leaving Elijah in Alesbrook’s care. The court heard she failed to seek prompt medical treatment for her son. However, prosecutors made clear she was not responsible for Elijah’s injuries, describing her as “a thoroughly inadequate mother” but not the attacker.
Heartbreaking Verdict and Next Steps
Judge Jeremy Baker confirmed sentencing for both Alesbrook and Shemwell will be set at a future date. He warned Alesbrook there was only one sentence possible for the murder charge, with a minimum term yet to be decided.
“Carl Alesbrook, for reasons that only he knows, decided to shake Elijah, causing him a fatal brain injury. His final hours would have been unbelievably painful. As a father, it is inconceivable how anyone could behave this way to a defenceless four-month-old child.”
— Det Ch Insp Greg McGill, Derbyshire Police
