British dad of Yorkshire imprisoned for shaking his infant son to death due to bad temper

Hunter Mathias was just nine-weeks-old when he was killed by his father, Leon Mathias 

By Edward Era Barbacena

Another case of familicide involving another white man who murdered his 9-week-old son due to bad temper. But such horrendous crime took place not in the United States but this time in United Kingdom.  White people should not have a family if they can't control their bad tempers. 

A Yorkshire dad is due to be sentenced today after being found guilty of murdering his own baby.

Leon Mathias, 34, was convicted of killing little Hunter after a 13-week trial at Sheffield Crown Court. Hunter died on December 3, 2018, after collapsing at their home in Barnsley following his father taking him upstairs for a bath.

Doctors at Barnsley District General Hospital were unable to save Hunter. Mathias wasn't charged with Hunter's murder until February 2021.

Throughout the long trial, jurors heard lengthy medical details about the injuries Hunter suffered.

Mathias is due in court at 10.15am this morning to be sentenced.

In mitigation, the judge accepted that the intention to cause serious harm 'may have only been momentary', saying Mathias 'snapped'.

Similarly, Mrs Justice Lambert acknowledged Mathias's previous good character - he was described in character references as previously "kind and gentle" with a "loving relationhip" towards Hunter and his partner.

However, she did not accept that Mathias having to live with having killed his own son was a mitigating factor, saying: "We must all live with the consequences of our actions. You have expressed no remorse throughout this process."

As she prepared to give sentence, Mrs Justice Lambert said Mathias had snapped for "no good reason other than that you had had a hard day at work".

Considering the aggravating factors set out by counsel, Mrs Justice Lambert said Hunter "should've been safe in your arms" to Mathias as she discussed the particular relationship of trust between parent and child.

"Your behaviour was nothing short of grotesque", she added.

Secondly, Justice Lambert said Mathias "should have told the truth" about what had happened to staff at the hospital who were trying to save Hunter.

"Instead of trying to save your son by telling staff what had happened you chose to stay quiet," she said. "Your focus remained on your predicament and not Hunter's."

The court heard how Mathias's partner had told the nurse that Hunter had been smiling that morning and Mathias told her to 'shut up'.

Mrs Justice Lambert set out how Leon Mathias came home on November 30, 2018, after a hard day at work, to find his house full of people. After a bit of socialising, Mathias took Hunter upstairs for a bath.

The court heard that before being taken upstairs, Hunters was 'perfectly fit and well'. While in the bath, Hunter opened his bowels, and Mathias was frustrated.

"In your frustration and irritation you shook him," Mrs Justice Lambert said. She added how during the trial the jury heard evidence that shaking a baby can be lethal, something Mathias had been told by a nurse.

Hunter suffered nerve damage from the shaking - he stopped breathing and lost consciousness. His circulation was affected and didn't recover until it was already too late.

"I'm sure that Hunter died of the effects of being shaken and being treated roughly by you," Mrs Justice Lambert said.

Hunter suffered bleeding on the brain, as well as bleeding on the back of his eyes. Hunter had also suffered areas of bruising - the judge recounted how Mathias had told the jury at trial that he had no explanation for these, but she had 'no doubt' they had been inflicted by Mathias.

Mrs Justice Lambert sentenced Leon Mathias to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years before he is considered for release.