PAUL BURGESS SHAKES BABY IN DUMFRIES LEADING TO FATAL BRAIN INJURIES

In October 2020, Paul Burgess, a man originally from Dumfries, was released from custody and is now residing in Eastriggs, near Dumfries. His criminal history is marked by a tragic incident that took place several years earlier, which resulted in the death of a 15-week-old infant named Zaiidyn Burke.

Back in June 2016, Burgess was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to culpable homicide in connection with the death of Zaiidyn. The incident occurred in October 2012 at a residence in Dumfries, where Burgess had been left in charge of the baby for a little over an hour. During this period, the child’s mother, Jade Caven, had stepped out to take a four-year-old girl to the hospital after she sustained a fall and hit her head on a coffee table.

According to court proceedings, Burgess, who was suffering from a hangover at the time, was responsible for caring for Zaiidyn. During this period, he attempted to feed the infant, but something went terribly wrong. When Jade Caven returned home, she immediately noticed that her baby was unwell. The child's lips and face had turned blue, and he appeared to be completely lifeless. She quickly rushed him to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, and subsequently, he was transferred to Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow for specialized care.

Tragically, Zaiidyn succumbed to his injuries two days later, on October 29, 2012. His father, Lee Burke, was present at the hospital when the baby died, holding him in her arms. The medical team at the hospital diagnosed severe brain injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome. A CT scan revealed extensive brain damage, and an ophthalmologist confirmed the presence of hemorrhages in the baby’s eyes, which are characteristic signs of shaken baby injuries. The extent of the hemorrhaging was described as the worst the doctor had seen since 1993.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Burgess had previously done this caregiving without incident, but on that day, he lost his temper, possibly while trying to feed the baby. Prosecutors suggested that Burgess’s frustration led him to shake Zaiidyn, causing the fatal injuries. Evidence indicated that Burgess had sent a text message to Jade Caven at 2.20 pm asking how long she would be away. When she returned ten minutes later, she found her son in a distressing state, with blue lips and face, unresponsive to her attempts to revive him. She then shook her son gently, but he showed no signs of life.

Emergency services were called, and Burgess assisted in performing chest compressions while Jade Caven contacted emergency responders. The baby was transported first to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary and then transferred to Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow. Throughout this ordeal, Burgess appeared remarkably calm and detached, a stark contrast to the grief-stricken parents, Jade Caven and Lee Burke, who were described as hysterical and distraught.

Medical examinations confirmed the severity of the injuries. A specialist ophthalmologist noted hemorrhages in the baby’s eyes, indicating shaken baby syndrome, and described the injuries as the worst he had encountered since beginning his practice. The court heard that Burgess and Caven’s relationship ended after the court proceedings began, as she realized the truth about the circumstances surrounding her son’s death. The judge, Lord Boyd, stated that if Burgess had been convicted following a trial, he would have faced a nine-year sentence. Instead, Burgess received a sentence of seven and a half years after admitting culpable homicide, with the sentence deferred for background reports and Burgess being remanded in custody.

In his sentencing remarks, Lord Boyd emphasized the devastating impact of the child's death on his family, noting that the loss was irreparable. He also criticized Burgess’s lifestyle, which was marked by substance use, and expressed the profound grief experienced by the family. The court’s findings established that Burgess’s loss of temper, most likely triggered by feeding difficulties, led him to shake the infant with fatal consequences. The tragic case remains a stark reminder of the devastating effects of child abuse and the importance of responsible caregiving.