Life sentence for man who killed partner’s six-month-old baby

A man who killed a six-month-old baby by violently shaking him has been jailed for life.

Kieran Humphreys, 33, was caring for Archie Woodbridge on 9 February 2024 when he assaulted him, causing a fatal brain injury and several broken bones.

Instead of calling for an ambulance, Humphreys spent time online browsing Facebook, buying clothes and looking at holidays, before eventually taking Archie to a relative’s house in Houghton Regis in Bedfordshire.

Paramedics were finally called nearly 90 minutes after Archie was injured, as he was being carried to the address. When the ambulance crew arrived, Humphreys lied to them about what had happened.

Humphreys claimed Archie had been with his mother when he became unwell and insisted that he had not been present.

He repeated this account to the police, and his lies were supported by three others – his mother Sharon Humphreys and his two friends Karen Smith and Sam Wyatt – who also gave false statements.

Shan Saunders from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “This is a heartbreaking case. Despite convincing Archie’s mother that he cared for her little boy, Kieran Humphreys violently cut his life short.

“The jury found him guilty of murder after we presented expert evidence showing that Archie’s injuries were not an accident; they were most likely caused by Humphreys gripping him tightly and violently shaking him.

“Humphreys will now spend a long time in prison, but nothing can ever make up for the loss of Archie and our thoughts remain with his mother and family.”

The jury also convicted Humphreys of child cruelty for the delay in requesting vital medical help for Archie.

Ahead of the trial, Humphreys pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice for the lies he told to cover up what had happened to Archie. Sharon Humphreys, Karen Smith and Sam Wyatt also admitted this offence.

Today, Kieran Humphreys was sentenced at Luton Crown Court to a minimum of 21 years in prison. Sharon Humphreys was jailed for nine months. Karen Smith received a 12-month prison sentence and Sam Wyatt was sentenced to 15 months in jail.