DANIEL SANZONE SHAKES BABY IN WOLVERHAMPTON: HORRIFIC CRIME LEADS TO LIFE SENTENCE
In a tragic and disturbing case that has shocked the community of Wolverhampton, Daniel Sanzone, a 23-year-old man, was convicted of the brutal murder of his infant son, Joshua Millinson.The incident occurred at their family home in Wolverhampton, where Sanzone inflicted severe and irreversible brain injuries on the two-week-old baby, injuries so catastrophic that they ultimately led to Joshua’s death.
On the day of the assault, which took place in October of the previous year, Sanzone violently shook his young son, causing injuries that medical experts described as some of the most severe they had ever encountered.
The injuries included extensive brain damage, multiple fractures, and signs of previous trauma, indicating a pattern of abuse that spanned at least a week prior to the fatal incident.
The court heard that Joshua had suffered six fractured ribs and six broken legs, injuries that predated the final assault and suggested ongoing abuse.
Following the incident, emergency services were called to Whitburn Close in Pendeford, Wolverhampton, where paramedics found Joshua unresponsive, not breathing, and in a floppy state.
Sanzone initially told Joshua’s mother, Zoe Howell, that the loud bang she heard from another room was caused by a remote control falling to the floor.
During police interviews, he claimed the sound was the sofa hitting the wall as he sat back, but evidence from medical examinations and witness testimonies painted a far more disturbing picture.
Joshua was rushed to New Cross Hospital and then transferred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where he was placed on life support.
Despite efforts to save him, the High Court ultimately ordered the withdrawal of life support, and Joshua passed away after nearly a month in intensive care.
The medical reports revealed that his brain injuries resembled those seen in major road accidents and were characteristic of shaken baby syndrome.
Jurors at Birmingham Crown Court deliberated for three days before convicting Sanzone of murder and child cruelty.
The court heard that Sanzone had assaulted Joshua on at least two occasions, with the second incident being the one that caused the fatal injuries.
The jury also learned that Sanzone was unable to accept that Zoe Howell, Joshua’s mother, was no longer able to focus her attention solely on him, which may have contributed to the tragic events.
During the trial, it was revealed that Howell, aged 19 at the time, was not involved in the abuse and was cleared of any charges related to allowing Joshua’s death.
The prosecution accused her of turning a blind eye to the ongoing harm, but the court found her not guilty.
Sanzone, on the other hand, faces a minimum of 15 years in prison before being eligible for parole, and the judge, Mr Justice Robert Jay, described him as “immature.” Following the sentencing, Zoe Howell expressed her anguish, stating, “I’ve lost my son and I’ve had to go through all this.
People have been slating me for something I didn’t do.
My son was my whole world.
I can’t explain it.
I just keep saying to myself I should have done more, but what could I have done?” In the aftermath of the incident, Sanzone received death threats, and his prison cell was reportedly ransacked, reflecting the community’s outrage and the severity of the crime committed in Wolverhampton.
The case has left a lasting scar on the local community, highlighting the devastating consequences of child abuse and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable children.
