Tue, 23 Feb 2016
Thomas Driukas left his baby daughter with a brain injury and 26 fractured ribs because he could not cope with looking after her, he has been convicted of her murder.
An ambulance was called to Driuka's home in Perry Barr, Birmingham, in the early hours of April 2015. After the baby was found to to have died as a result of a significant brain trauma consistent with being shaken with force, an investigation was launched.
The 26-year-old denied inflicting the injuries on his child but the jury took just three hours to find him guilty of her murder and two counts of wounding at Birmingham Crown Court.
Jonas Hankin QC, prosecuting, said the fractures had been caused by “forceful squeezing”. He said the defendant had acted out of “temper and frustration” because he was unable to deal with looking after her on his own.
Mr Hankin said Druikas and his partner Renata Braskyte had taken it in turns to look after the prematurely-born girl, who had suffered a number of health problems, while they each worked.
Det Sgt Nick Barnes, of West Midlands Police's Homicide Team, said: "Driukas was her father and should have been responsible for the wellbeing and protection of his daughter.
Click here to view the article written by the Express and Star.
Click here to view the article written by the Birmingham Mail.
Click here to view the article written by the BBC.
To view Jonas Hankin QC's profile, please click here.
