Twisted killer brutally murdered 6-month-old baby boy while mum was out | UK | News

A 33-year-old man has been found guilty of shaking his 19-year-old partner’s newborn son to death in a “tragic” case. Kieran Humphreys, of Bromley Gardens, was supposedly “looking after” new partner Saskia Woodbridge’s six-month-old baby Archie as he got his nails done.

The court heard the couple, from Houghton Regis in Bedfordshire, met in a local shop just a week before Archie’s murder on February 9, 2024. Appearing at Luton Crown Court, Humphreys denied unlawfully killing Archie and pleaded not guilty to murder, manslaughter and child cruelty. Solicitor Charlotte Newell KC, prosecuting Humphreys, said the evidence showed the 33-year-old had “shaken” the six-month-old baby, causing a fatal brain injury.

Jurors heard Humphreys was “up throughout the night” playing Call of Duty on Xbox.

He added that while Archie was teething, he lost his temper and appeared to have killed Archie, and that after realizing his actions, the killer’s priority was not to save the baby but to “save his own skin” as he attempted to cover up his actions.

After Archie’s death, the court heard how Humphreys lied about the boy’s death.

Before calling emergency services, Humphreys, with the help of her friend Karen Smith and Archie’s mother, drove Archie from a friend’s house in Dolphin Drive to a relative’s house in Bromley Gardens.

A 999 call was later made which directed paramedics to the Bromley Gardens address. The prosecutor told the court CCTV footage before the ambulance arrived showed the moments when Saski Woodbridge called 999 and Kieran Humphreys, his mother Sharon and their friend Karen Smith tried to help Archie before paramedics arrived.

Saskia Woodbridge told police that Humphreys, her mother and Smith “lied about what happened and when” and that the group pressured the new mother not to let Kieran be “solely responsible” for Archie.

The court also heard how Humphreys admitted conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Humphreys told police he was innocent and the court heard he told officers “I’m not done with this”, but the defendant chose not to give evidence.

Jurors heard how Humphreys claimed she tried to save Archie while he was sleeping and struggling to breathe.

The judge, Mr Justice Morris, said he would sentence Humphreys at a date to be determined after he was found guilty of child cruelty as well as Archie’s murder.

As Humphreys was remanded in custody, Mr Justice Morris said he would impose a mandatory life sentence.

Karen Smith, 40, of Dolphin Drive, Houghton Regis; his partner, Sam Wyatt, 36, of Dolphin Drive; and Sharon Humphreys, 59, of Bromley Gardens, also admitted conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Humphreys and three other defendants are expected to be sentenced together.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gardner, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire major crime unit, said he hoped the verdict would bring some peace to the family.

He added: “This was an extremely sad case where a defenseless baby lost his life at the hands of someone who was supposed to be looking after him.

“Kieran Humphreys’ actions clearly reveal a self-serving approach, as his primary concern was to save himself rather than prioritize Archie’s welfare by attempting to cover Archie’s tracks.”