HEYSHAM MAN KANE KENNEDY SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL MURDER OF BABY IN MORECAMBE

In a tragic and disturbing case that has shocked the community of Heysham and the wider Lancashire area, Kane Kennedy, aged 20, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years for the murder of his seven-month-old son, Oskar Jobey-Kennedy. The heinous acts took place at the family home in Morecambe, where Kennedy’s violent actions led to the infant’s death in October of the previous year.

According to court proceedings, Kennedy subjected the defenseless baby to a series of brutal and obscene injuries. He forcibly grabbed Oskar’s testicles, employing methods such as gripping, pinching, or twisting them, causing immense pain. The court also heard that Kennedy pushed his fingers down the child's throat, an act that contributed to the child's suffering. Ultimately, Kennedy placed his hand over Oskar’s mouth, suffocating him to death in a horrifying act of violence.

During the sentencing hearing at Preston Crown Court, Kennedy was visibly shocked and moved to cover his own mouth in disbelief as the judge announced the sentence. The court was told that Kennedy, who was known to be a regular cannabis smoker, had a volatile temper, especially when unable to obtain his drug of choice. His relationship with Oskar’s mother, Tia Jobey, 19, was also characterized by frequent arguments, particularly over Kennedy’s cannabis use. Prior to Oskar’s death on October 1, 2015, Jobey had sent text messages to Kennedy, confronting him about his previous acts of pushing his fingers down Oskar’s throat and covering the child's mouth, indicating her awareness of the danger he posed.

Judge Mr. Justice Davis addressed the court, emphasizing the tragic nature of the case. He stated, “Oskar was seven months old when he was killed by you. Obviously he depended on those responsible for his care to protect him, and in this case, both of those with immediate responsibility failed him. His mother knew that he was at serious risk and did nothing adequate to protect him. Her culpability pales into insignificance compared to yours. You are the one, on the jury’s verdict, that killed that tiny baby.”

The judge further expressed his belief that Kennedy’s actions were not isolated but part of a pattern of deliberate ill-treatment in the days and weeks leading up to Oskar’s death. Although Kennedy claimed he did not intend to kill his son, the judge questioned whether his actions were motivated by some perverse sense of amusement, describing the act as “a dreadful thing to do to a seven-month-old.”

Kennedy, who hails from Heysham, was found guilty of murder after a jury trial, having previously denied the charges. His defense lawyer, Michael Hayton QC, argued that both Kennedy and Jobey had, in large part, been capable parents and that this was not a case of systematic abuse. Kennedy, who maintained his innocence and blamed Jobey during his testimony, appeared stunned as the sentence was handed down, shaking his head as he was led away from the courtroom.

In the same case, Tia Jobey, of Balmoral Road, Morecambe, pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of a child. She was sentenced to 30 months in a young offender institution. The court heard that the relationship between Kennedy and Jobey was strained, with arguments escalating over Kennedy’s cannabis use. Jobey described Kennedy as “stressy” when he could not smoke cannabis, which she said made him paranoid about everything. She admitted that their relationship was not ideal and expressed regret for not leaving Kennedy earlier, citing fear of being alone.

Paramedics responded to the Balmoral Road address shortly before 9 a.m. on October 1, 2015, after Oskar was found unresponsive. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. The post-mortem examination revealed multiple non-accidental injuries, including 13 marks on his face and neck, as well as bruising to both testicles. Medical experts testified that such injuries would have caused Oskar “immense pain” while he was alive.

Detectives investigating the case described the injuries inflicted on Oskar as “frankly obscene,” highlighting the severity and brutality of the abuse. The case has left a lasting scar on the community, raising questions about child protection and the responsibilities of caregivers in the face of such violence.