After murdering his eight-week-old kid, a cannabis-addicted father tweeted a series of macabre tributes, including a fresh neck tattoo bearing the child’s name.
Police arrested Oliver Mailey, 26, of Burnley, Lancashire, for shaking Abel-Jax to death on November 27, 2021, but he was released pending inquiry.
The posts were discovered after Mailey was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 16 years at Preston Crown Court for murder.
He attempted to portray himself as a distraught father by uploading a series of images and words in which he referred to his victim as “Spud” and expressed how much he missed and loved him.
Oliver Mailey, 26, of Burnley, Lancashire, was arrested for shaking Abel-Jax to death on November 27, 2021, but he was released pending an investigation.
The posts surfaced after Mailey was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 16 years for murder at Preston Crown Court.
He attempted to portray himself as a distraught father by uploading a series of images and words in which he referred to his victim as “Spud” and expressed how much he missed and loved him.
One Facebook picture depicted Mailey hugging Abel-Jax in his arms with the caption, “Words cannot express how much I need and miss you, potato daddy loves you and will never stop doing so.”
Another depicted him with a homage tattoo to Abel-Jax on his neck, which he had gotten after the murder.
It was imprinted with the baby’s name, angel wings, and a handprint.
When the infant’s mother, Mollie Gorton, unknowingly launched a GoFundMe campaign to seek money for Abel-funeral, Jax’s Mailey posted: ‘Please can everyone help me to lay my little potato to rest with a few donations?
We are struggling to lay him to rest and give him the appropriate send-off.
Leanne Guest responded by posting, “You killed him?! And you’re so sick that you’re posting photographs like your father of the year.’
Paige Chadwick responded, ‘You must be joking. How evil and perverted can an individual be!!!!!! You have taken money from others to pay for the burial of the youngster you murdered. The worst of the worst. I pray that you receive everything you deserve.
Tom Horne stated, “Kills his child and then has his name tattooed, that is terrible. I hope your time in prison is absolutely horrible, you miserable child.’
The court was informed that Mailey had previously shaken Abel-Jax, resulting in seven fractured ribs and a brain bleed.
At that moment, the infant was not rushed to the hospital and was heard wailing in pain while Mailey and Mollie held and caressed him.
When the infant’s mother, Mollie Gorton, launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Abekl Jax’s funeral, Mailey posted: ‘Please can everyone assist me to lay to rest my little potato?’
Mailey is pictured celebrating the gender reveal for Abel-Jax weeks before the baby’s birth.
On the day of the murder, around ten days later, Mollie had gone to work at the Turf Moor stadium of Burnley FC, leaving Abel-Jax with his father.
Within forty-five minutes of her departure, Mailey called her to inform her that something was amiss with their boy.
During a video connection between the two, Mollie could see Abel-Jax lying motionless on Mailey’s knee.
Mailey told Mollie that while he was changing him, he felt ‘strange,’ so he proceeded to feed him, but his arms became flaccid and he felt ‘funny’ again.
Abel-Jax was transported to the Royal Blackburn Hospital before being transferred to the Manchester Children’s Hospital, where he passed away two days later.
Doctors determined that he died from a brain injury after being shaken with ‘the force of a vehicle accident.’
Mailey was caught on November 28 evening and charged with murder in July of the following year.
Initially, he denied any misconduct and cast suspicion on Mollie.
As Abel-Jax would not stop crying, he eventually admitted at his trial to shaking his kid in a “moment of madness.”
Mollie, age 26, was first accused of murdering Abel-Jax, but she was later exonerated.
She added in a statement, ‘I had to prepare the funeral for my infant, but I had no idea where to begin or how to go.
My house is filled with so many memories that it haunts me. I live in my bedroom on the second floor because I dislike being downstairs. I dislike being alone because when I am alone, I dwell on it. I do not trust anybody and I do not believe I will ever again trust a man.
The court was informed that Mailey had previously shaken Abel-Jax, inflicting seven fractured ribs and a brain bleed.
One Facebook post depicted Mailey holding Abel-Jax in her arms.
Another depicted him with a homage tattoo to Abel-Jax on his neck, which he had gotten after the murder.
‘I feel like I am stuck and not getting to my destination. I’m still stunned and unable to comprehend it. I might benefit from speaking with someone, but I was instructed not to do so. Currently, my only objective is to reconstruct my life.
Mr. Justice Barry Cotter, sentencing Mailey, stated: ‘You knew you had severely damaged a seven-and-a-half-week-old baby, as he was limp, not breathing correctly, if at all, and unresponsive, yet you did not take the apparent and immediate action until two people advised you to.
“You had already made the decision to lie; you lied to the paramedics and continued to lie at the hospital.” Mollie accused you of harming Abel, but you denied doing so and said that her son was responsible.
“Finally, the medical evidence revealed an overall pattern of brain, eye, and nervous system injuries consistent with deliberate and violent shaking on the morning of November 28, 2021.”
‘The injuries caused by the shaking, the lack of oxygen, the bleeding, and the swelling led to Abel-collapse Jax’s and death.
“The triad of brain edema, brain hemorrhage, and eye injuries were consistent with non-accidental head trauma.”
‘Abel was not a particularly difficult child; he had a solid routine and was a decent sleeper; there was nothing about his behavior that could be defined as driving you to the brink of insanity.
“The reason he was crying so much in the days leading up to his death was because you had fractured his ribs.” You had been awakened a few times during the night, but this is normal for new parents. The strong shaking was evident on both occasions, and you afterwards lied to protect your reputation.’
Katie Marsden, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, stated after the case, ‘This is a genuinely awful case. Abel-Jax suffered horrific injuries on multiple occasions at the hands of his father, one of the very individuals who should have protected him during his brief existence.
Det Ch Insp Jane Webb, of the Force Major Investigation Team of the Lancashire Police Department, stated, “Abel-death Jax’s is utterly tragic and heartbreaking.” It has crushed his family, and there are no words to convey the unfathomable suffering they have had and continue to endure.
Oliver Mailey was in a position of trust as Abel-father, Jax’s there to provide love, support, and care. That day, Mailey violated this trust in the most terrible and heinous manner. He perpetrated a stunning attack that sadly resulted in Abel-demise. Jax’s
‘When interviewed by authorities, he denied knowing anything about Abel-injuries Jax’s on multiple occasions. He only admitted shaking Abel-Jax in recent months and pleaded guilty to manslaughter, claiming he did not mean to kill or cause significant injury.
Mailey is a coward, and he is solely responsible for his son’s death. We are pleased with the result and would want to thank the jury for their deliberation and for giving Abel-Jax a voice.
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