ALLEN YOUNG SHAKING BABY SON IN LONDON AND WISHAW: COURT OF APPEAL REJECTS BID TO CLEAR HIS NAME

In a significant legal development, Allen Young, a man originally from Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, and previously residing in Belsize Park, northwest London, has had his attempt to overturn a conviction rejected by the Court of Appeal. The case revolves around a series of tragic events involving his young son, Michael, and highlights the complexities of criminal and medical evidence in such sensitive cases.

Back in September 2016, Young, now 38 years old, faced a court hearing concerning his past actions. Nearly two decades earlier, in 1999, he had pleaded guilty to causing serious injury to his five-week-old son by shaking him in an effort to stop the infant from crying. At that time, Young was living in Belsize Park, and he received a sentence of one year in prison for the grievous bodily harm (GBH) assault. The incident left a lasting impact on the young child, who suffered multiple fractures and brain injuries.

Fast forward to 2014, tragedy struck again when Michael died at the age of 12. The circumstances of his death prompted a new trial, during which Young was charged with manslaughter. However, after a thorough legal process, a jury at Wood Green Crown Court acquitted him of the manslaughter charge. Despite this, Young’s legal troubles persisted, as he maintained that the injuries inflicted upon Michael might have been caused by underlying medical conditions rather than solely by his actions.

In the subsequent appeal earlier this summer, Young challenged his original conviction for causing GBH, arguing that it was inconsistent with the jury’s verdict of not guilty on the manslaughter charge. His legal team contended that the jury’s decision indicated that his guilty plea might have been unwarranted, and they sought to have the conviction overturned. The case was carefully considered over a period of three months by the Court of Appeal judges in London.

Ultimately, the judges dismissed Young’s appeal. Sir Brian Leveson, presiding over the case, clarified that Young had admitted to shaking Michael, who was found with multiple fractures. The medical evidence at the time indicated that these fractures were most likely caused during the shaking incident. Sir Brian emphasized that although Young might not have been aware of the full extent of the injuries he caused, the fractures occurred while he was responsible for his son’s welfare. The legal advice Young received before pleading guilty was also highlighted, with the judges noting that the plea was entered based on sound legal counsel.

Sir Brian Leveson further explained that the evidence available during the initial trial supported the conclusion that the injuries were inflicted during the shaking incident. He stated that there was no substantial basis to argue that a different defense could have succeeded, and therefore, the conviction was deemed safe and valid. The court’s decision underscores the gravity of the injuries inflicted on Michael and affirms the legal process that led to Young’s conviction, dismissing any claims that the plea or the conviction were flawed or unsafe.