Grotesque baby murder: Dad jailed for life over tragic death of nine-week-old Hunter
Brutal Bath Time Killing Shocks Barnsley
“Nothing short of grotesque” – that was the harsh verdict from the judge today as Leon Mathias was jailed for life for murdering his baby son Hunter in November 2018.
Mathias, 34, deliberately killed his nine-week-old during a bath at their home in Barnsley. Hunter collapsed and stopped breathing just before 7.45pm on 30 November. Despite frantic efforts by hospital staff, the tiny tot died three days later from severe brain injuries.
Judge Condemns ‘Truly Horrifying’ Actions
Mrs Justice Lambert slammed Mathias’s crime as ‘truly horrifying and difficult to comprehend’. She ordered a minimum 16-year prison term before Mathias can even be considered for parole.
Hunter was rushed to Barnsley District General Hospital where medics tried to resuscitate him. His brain had swollen so badly the damage was fatal. Hunter passed away at Sheffield Children’s Hospital on 3 December 2018.
Detectives Praise Long Fight For Justice
Mathias was first arrested days after Hunter’s death and re-arrested nearly a year later. He provided no comment during police interviews. He was finally charged with murder and Section 18 assault in February 2021.
“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,” said senior investigating officer DCI Mark Oughton.
The judge commended the investigation team for their work in this complex case, but DCI Oughton admits, “We will never know exactly what happened during Hunter’s bath time.” What is clear is that Hunter suffered catastrophic injuries inflicted by his own father.
