07/04/2010

Man Guilty Of Murdering Son

A man has been found guilty of shaking his six-week-old son to death.

Ryszard Spiewak, 30, of Clarence Road, Peterborough, was convicted of killing baby Piotr following a trial at Cambridge Crown Court.

The Polish national was found guilty of murder and causing grievous bodily harm.

He will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on a date yet to be set.

Piotr died on September 2, 2008, having suffered severe brain damage and cardiac arrest four days earlier. The baby also had 10 fractured ribs believed to be some weeks old.

The court heard how Piotr stopped breathing at his home in Adderley, Bretton, on 29 August 2008.

An ambulance was called and Piotr was taken to Peterborough District Hospital and then Leicester Royal Infirmary, but four days later a decision was made to turn his life support machine off.

The court heard that Piotr's injuries suggested he had been squeezed and shaken excessively.

Detective Inspector Ian Baillie said: "This was a tragic case which saw a young life cut off by a deliberate act of violence.

"Spiewak continuously denied being responsible but today's verdict has proved otherwise.

"This was a difficult case and I would like to thank all those who helped to secure this prosecution."

(PR/GK)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

05 February 2015
Woman Charged With Murdering Baby
A woman has been charged with the murder of 10-month-old Chloe Sutherland, it has been reported. A 35-year-old woman, said to be the little girl's mother, made no plea or declaration during an appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today. She has been remanded in custody.
09 March 2011
Yorkshire Ripper Loses Life Tariff Bid
The Yorkshire Ripper has lost his case to go to the highest court to challenge an order that he should never be released. In 1981 Sutcliffe received 20 life sentences for murdering 13 women and attempting to murder seven others in Yorkshire and Greater Manchester.
02 November 2006
Man found guilty of daughter's murder
A father has been found guilty of the murder of his three-year-old daughter at Northampton Crown Court. The court heard how Gavin Hall, 33, killed his daughter Amelia by drugging her with anti-depressant tablets and smothering her with chloroform at the family home in Irchester in Northants last November.
20 January 2006
Lauren killer jailed for life
A teenager has been jailed of life for the murder of schoolgirl Lauren Pilkington-Smith. Eighteen-year-old Kieron Smith - no relation - had denied murdering the ten-year-old last summer, but was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court last month. On Friday, Mr Justice Mackay sentenced Smith to a minimum of 15 years in prison.
21 March 2014
Couple Admit Burying Parents In Garden
Susan Edwards, 55, and her husband Christopher, 57, have admitted burying her parents in the back garden of their home 16 years ago. They denied murdering Mr and Mrs Wycherley in a earlier court hearing.