TRURO FATHER STEPHEN COUKHAM SENTENCED FOR BABY'S DEATH IN TRURO

In a tragic case that has shocked the community of Truro, Cornwall, Stephen Coukham, a young father, was convicted of causing the death of his three-month-old son, Tyrone. The incident occurred in July 2010, and the subsequent legal proceedings revealed disturbing details about the circumstances leading to the infant's demise.

Coukham, who was 18 years old at the time, resided with his partner, Kerry Marriott, in a flat on Hendra Road, Truro. On that fateful day, he took his baby into the bedroom to change him. According to reports, the situation escalated when Tyrone began crying and refused to stop. In a moment of anger and frustration, Coukham lost control, and it is believed he either shook the baby vigorously or threw him onto a soft surface, actions that medical experts later identified as highly likely to cause severe harm.

Shortly after the incident, Coukham raised the alarm when Tyrone stopped breathing. Emergency services responded promptly, and the infant was rushed to the hospital. Despite medical efforts, Tyrone succumbed later that day. An autopsy revealed that the baby had suffered an 'unsurvivable head injury,' specifically acceleration-deceleration injuries consistent with vigorous shaking. The medical team also noted the presence of internal injuries that might have been inflicted prior to the day of his death.

During the trial at Truro Crown Court, Coukham initially denied the charge of murder but later admitted responsibility for his son's death. The Crown Prosecution Service accepted his plea of manslaughter. The court sentenced him to three years and eight months in prison. Mrs Justice Sharp, presiding over the case, commented on the tragic nature of the incident, stating, 'The precise sequence of events that led to Tyrone’s death will never be known. But you lost your temper because he was crying or wouldn’t stop crying. Then in a fit of temper, you shook him hard, or threw him down on a soft surface – actions that were likely to cause him harm.'

At the time of the incident, Coukham was living with his partner in Truro, and the case drew significant attention from local residents and authorities alike. Detective Sergeant Andy Warne, who led the investigation, expressed his condemnation of the act, emphasizing the brutality inflicted upon a defenseless ten-week-old child. He stated, 'This was a violent act committed against a defenceless ten-week-old baby who sustained terrible injuries at the hands of the very person who should have been caring for him.'

The police investigation, which spanned over two years and involved specialized units focusing on major crimes and child abuse, ultimately led to Coukham’s conviction. The case remains a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of parental violence and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children in the community of Truro.