Baby murdered by mother's new partner, jury told

Kieran Humphreys has denied murdering six-month-old Archie Woodbridge during a trial at Luton Crown Court

A 31-year-old man shook and murdered his new partner's baby after playing a video game "throughout" the night, a prosecutor told a jury.

Kieran Humphreys, now 33, of Bromley Gardens, Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, appeared to have killed Archie Woodbridge after losing his temper, barrister Charlotte Newell KC said.

Miss Newell told a trial at Luton Crown Court that Archie's mother, Saskia Woodbridge - who was 19 and lived near Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, had left her baby alone with Mr Humphreys while she went to a nail salon.

Mr Humphreys denies unlawfully killing six-month-old Archie, who was born on 27 July 2023, and pleaded not guilty to murder, manslaughter and child cruelty.

'Call of Duty'

Miss Newell outlined detail of events leading to Archie's death when summarising the prosecution case at the start of the trial on Monday.

She said Archie's mother had met Mr Humphreys a week before the little boy died on 9 February 2024.

Evidence showed that Archie had been "gripped and shaken", and suffered a fatal brain injury, while in Mr Humphreys' "sole care", she told jurors.

Mr Humphreys had been "awake throughout the night" playing Call of Duty on Xbox, she said.

Miss Newell said Mr Humphreys' priority after Archie died had been to "save his own skin".

She said Mr Humphreys had lied about the circumstances in which Archie became unwell - and had admitted perverting the course of justice.

'Blue'

Miss Newell said Mr Humphreys had been with Archie at the home of friends in Houghton Regis on the day the little boy died.

Miss Woodbridge, who had gone to a nail salon in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, made an emergency call when she got back to the house.

She told an operator that Archie was "blue", not moving and not breathing.

The little boy had been taken to hospital - and was declared dead late on the same day.

'Priority'

"It transpired he had a fatal injury - gripped and shaken with force while in the sole care of Kieran Humphreys," Miss Newell told jurors.

"He (Mr Humphreys) has provided no alternative explanation as to how or why this otherwise healthy baby died whilst in his sole care."

Miss Newell said it appeared that Mr Humphreys' had "lost his temper" and had failed to seek medical help for Archie.

She added: "The priority of Kieran Humphreys from the get-go was to save his own skin, regardless of the welfare of the child."

'Daddy'

'Miss Newell said Mr Humphreys had "befriended" Miss Woodbridge "just days before".

He had "lavished attention" on Miss Woodbridge and Archie and led Miss Woodbridge to believe that he would "care" for them.

Miss Newell said Miss Woodbridge had been, "charmed by this older man".

Mr Humphreys had "started calling himself 'daddy' ", said his name could be put on Archie's birth certificate, and portrayed himself as "their saviour".

But Miss Newell said Miss Woodbridge's trust in Mr Humphreys' had been "borne from naivety".

She said Miss Woodbridge and met Mr Humphreys on 2 February 2024 and a week later Archie "was dead".

The trial continues.