SBS: England: Suspect father Anthony Goatley hangs himself

17th March 2011:  Harry Hogger

A FAMILY that suffered a double tragedy ‘will never know the truth’ behind the death of an eight-week old baby, a coroner has said.
Corbin Antony Goatley died in July last year while in the care of his father Antony Ivan Goatley.
Just over a month later Mr Goatley, 26, was found hanged at his Weymouth home.

At inquests into the death of the baby and his father at County Hall in Dorchester West Dorset Coroner Michael Johnston recorded a verdict that Mr Goatley had taken his own life, while he recorded an open verdict on the death of Corbin.

Mr Johnston said on the night of July 3 last year Mr Goatley’s wife Ashlea Reid had gone out with friends and left him in charge of their baby Corbin and his three-year-old sister at their home in Gallwey Road.
He said shortly after midnight Mr Goatley went to feed Corbin and the baby began to choke and his body went limp.
Mr Goatley put Corbin on the bed and stroked his stomach and phoned the ambulance service, which advised him how to resuscitate the child.

He was still attempting to resuscitate the baby when an ambulance crew arrived and took Corbin to Dorset County Hospital.

At the hospital medical staff discovered Corbin had sustained a brain haemorrhage and, despite their best efforts, he later died.
Due to the nature of the baby’s death a thorough medical examination was carried out.
Professor Rupert Risdon, a consultant paediatric pathologist, said there was evidence of bruising to the left side of Corbin’s neck, to the back of his head and on his buttock.
The examination also showed damage to the child’s eyes and brain that suggested a non-accidental trauma.
Mr Johnston said: “Examination of his body showed that Corbin’s death had all the hallmarks of being from shaken baby syndrome.”
Detective Inspector Mark Samuel, who investigated the death, said Mr Goatley was arrested on July 9 and interviewed about his son’s death.
In interview he said after Corbin had gone limp and he had shaken him for approximately three seconds but could not say how hard, although he did not think it was very hard.
He said Corbin had choked and his body had gone limp before he had shaken him.
DI Samuel confirmed Mr Goatley had not been charged with any offence and he had not had the chance to respond to any of the detailed medical reports produced.
Mr Johnston recorded the cause of Corbin’s death as a head injury and said: “All the evidence points to the injury being caused by non-accidental trauma.”
He said there were ‘two or three possible verdicts’ open to him including unlawful killing or accidental death, however he said there was no evidence to support an accidental verdict and not enough to support a verdict of unlawful killing.
Mr Johnston said: “I am satisfied that we will never know the truth of what happened and because of that I’m going to record an open verdict.”
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/8915794.Double_tragedy__Family_will__never_know_the_truth_/

SBS: England: Antony Goatley hangs self after charged

16 March 2011

A father arrested over the death of his eight-week-old son hanged himself a month later, an inquest heard.

Antony Goatley, 26, was on bail over the death of baby Corbin who he said had choked while being fed at home in Weymouth, Dorset, last July.
But the inquest heard medical evidence showed Corbin died from injuries consistent with being shaken.
An open verdict was recorded for Corbin while the coroner ruled Mr Goatley killed himself.
The inquest heard the post-mortem examination on Corbin revealed several rib fractures that had been caused four to six weeks earlier.
Facebook message It was around the time that he and his three-year-old sister had been left with Mr Goatley while their mother went out with friends, the hearing was told.
On that night in May, she rushed home after a panicked phone call from Mr Goatley saying Corbin would not stop crying.
Two months later the baby died at Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, having been admitted after he stopped breathing.
Police were called when an examination revealed injuries consistent with being shaken.
Pathologists agreed the injuries were consistent with "shaken baby syndrome" despite Mr Goatley insisting to police he shook the child only "for three seconds" after he stopped breathing.
Letter to wife The inquest also heard that Corbin's sister was admitted to hospital at a similar age with bruising on her arm.
At the time it was thought to be an infection and no full examination took place.
Mr Goatley had been bailed to live with his father in Reading, Berkshire, while police carried out further tests on Corbin's body.
He absconded and was traced through his mobile phone to a house near his family home in Weymouth on 6 August.
When police officers broke in, they found him hanged in the hallway, with a letter to his wife at his feet.
He also left a message on Facebook saying goodbye to his friends.
West Dorset coroner Michael Johnson said: "Incidents like this strike at the heart of family life.
"The repercussions will continue for many years to come, with people asking how and why it happened.
"The sad thing is that the family has had to lose a child and a father."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-12764774

SIDS: England: Fiona Montrose

 20th February 2011  Harry Hogger

MOTHER who lost her ‘beautiful baby’ to cot death has praised the medical staff who tried to save him.
Lewes Cameron Morris-Montrose, from Weymouth, was just three months old when he tragically died on September 19 last year.

At an inquest at County Hall in Dorchester West Dorset Coroner Michael Johnston said there had been no previous medical concerns over Lewes and he had been well the previous day.

He said Lewes's mother, Fiona Montrose, took him to bed at around 11pm, with the baby sleeping in a cot in her room until about 1am.
Mr Johnston said Mrs Montrose tried to feed Lewes when he woke up but he wouldn’t take much food and wouldn’t stay still so she put him in her double bed next to her at about 5am.
He added: “Tragically she woke up at 7am and he was then unresponsive and she called an ambulance.”
Mr Johnston said Mrs Montrose made attempts to resuscitate him, which was continued by ambulance staff until 8am.

Lewes was officially declared dead at Dorset County Hospital.

Pathologist Dr Liina Kiho, who carried out an examination of Lewes’ body, said she could find no underlying medical reason as to why the baby had suddenly died.
She concluded that Lewes had died from sudden infant death syndrome, which Mr Johnston recorded as the cause of death.
In his verdict Mr Johnston said Lewes had died of natural causes.
He told the youngster’s family: “I always feel terribly inadequate, there is nothing you can say when you have lost a child or a grandchild and I’m desperately sorry for you.”
In a statement following the inquest Mrs Montrose said: “Our beautiful baby Lewes was taken from us with sudden infant death syndrome (cot death) at just three months.
“Everyday we grieve but we also have such wonderful memories of him. He will always be so loved and missed very much.”
Mrs Montrose went on to thank all those who tried in vain to help save Lewes and those who had offered support since the tragedy.

She said: “I would like to thank all those involved with the family during this time, for their kindness, care and professionalism throughout - particularly the ambulance crew and accident and emergency staff of Dorset County Hospital who tried so hard to revive Lewes.

“Also the 999 operator who helped me through the CPR, St Andrew’s Church, my health visitor, my doctor, St Andrew’s CofE School, Budmouth College, Co-operative Funeral Directors, the London pathologist and the coroner’s office.
“Without everyone’s kindness this time would have been even more difficult for our family.
“I also would like to thank my family and true friends who have supported me throughout.”
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/localnews/8863446.Weymouth_mum_s_praise_for_medical_staff_who_tried_to_save_baby/