DAVID HOLLICK SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR MANSLAUGHTER OF BABY IN WALSALL

In a tragic case that has shocked the community of Walsall, David Hollick, a 29-year-old man residing on Primley Avenue, has been handed a substantial prison sentence of 15 years after being convicted of manslaughter. The court proceedings revealed the heartbreaking details surrounding the death of his six-month-old son, Kairo, which occurred in 2020 at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Hollick was found guilty of causing fatal injuries to his infant son, specifically skull fractures and brain injuries that ultimately led to Kairo's death. Although he was acquitted of murder charges, the jury determined that his actions amounted to manslaughter. During the trial, Hollick maintained that the injuries resulted from an accidental fall, claiming he had tripped and fallen while carrying Kairo. However, medical experts provided compelling evidence that contradicted his account, indicating that the injuries were consistent with physical assault rather than an accidental fall.

Evidence presented in court showed that Kairo had suffered at least two fractures to his skull and a fracture to his right arm within the three days leading up to his death. The severity and nature of these injuries led the medical professionals to conclude that they were caused by severe blunt force trauma. The presiding judge, Mr. Justice Dove, expressed his certainty that the injuries were non-accidental. He stated, "The evidence of the medical experts was that these injuries were not the result of rough handling or an accident, but the consequence of severe blunt force impact." The judge further emphasized that multiple blows had been inflicted upon the child, and there was evidence to suggest that Kairo had been shaken.

During the court proceedings, Kairo's mother, Adina Johnson, delivered a heartfelt victim impact statement. She described her son as a "dream baby" who "seemed too good to be true," expressing her profound grief and heartbreak over the loss of her child. She conveyed her pain and the devastating reality that her family would never be whole again.

The judge condemned the case as a grotesque breach of trust, highlighting the severity of the crime and the betrayal involved in a parent harming their own child. The sentencing reflects the gravity of the offense and the community's demand for justice in this tragic case from Walsall.