At barely four weeks old, a father acknowledged shaking his infant son “forcefully” and then murdering him because he was “tired and upset” by the wailing.
Leo Banks, age 2, passed away in February 2020 in his Chichester, West Sussex, home after receiving specialised care for head injuries he sustained as a newborn in December 2017.
When questioned by authorities about the wounds, Matthew Banks, 34, acknowledged to shaking Leo “very aggressively” while watching after him during the night.
He said that during a livestream, Leo had been sobbing uncontrollably and seemed worried that Banks had become weary and annoyed.
Leo’s mother discovered her child was ill when she woke up in the morning and sought medical attention.
After an investigation into the death by detectives from the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit, Banks, of Gilbert Road, Chichester, had a charge of manslaughter authorised by the CPS.
At today’s Winchester Crown Court hearing, he acknowledged the offence.
Detective Constable Owen Watkins, who is leading the investigation, said: “This is a heartbreaking case that led in the terrible and premature death of an innocent two-year-old kid.
Matthew Banks was one of the persons entrusted with taking care of Leo, but his actions instead resulted in injuries from which Leo regrettably never fully recovered.
We are glad that a guilty plea was accepted in court since it spares Leo’s family the added anguish of having to relive his death via a trial. At this terribly trying time, our thoughts are with them all.
On October 21, Banks will be sentenced once again.