SHAUN THOMPSON KILLS 21-MONTH-OLD STEPSON IN MARKET DRAYTON AND SENTENCED IN SHROPSHIRE

In a tragic case that has shocked the community of Market Drayton, Shaun Thompson, a soldier with the Royal Anglian Regiment, was convicted of manslaughter in connection with the death of his 21-month-old stepson, Kieran Edwards. The incident, which occurred in June 2007, resulted in Kieran suffering a fatal brain injury that ultimately led to his death three days later in a hospital setting.

Thompson, aged 25 at the time, had served in the army for eight years and had entered into a relationship with Kieran’s mother in late 2005, shortly after his regiment was stationed at Tern Hill Barracks in Shropshire. The court heard that on the evening of June 24, 2007, Kieran had fallen and bumped his head onto tiled flooring at the couple’s residence in Market Drayton. Medical professionals later confirmed that this fall was not the cause of his death, which was instead attributed to a traumatic event inflicted during the following hours.

Prosecutor Rachel Brand QC detailed that Kieran had been left in Thompson’s sole care around 7 pm that evening while his wife went out with a friend. It was during this period that medical experts believe Kieran was subjected to shaking or some form of violent trauma, which caused significant swelling and bleeding around his brain. Despite initial denials by Thompson, who claimed that the injuries resulted solely from the earlier fall, he eventually admitted responsibility after being arrested on suspicion of murder in May 2008.

Thompson’s initial refusal to acknowledge any violence inflicted upon Kieran led to a two-year ordeal for his wife, Mrs. Thompson, who was arrested on suspicion of murder, and their two surviving children were taken into care. The court heard that Thompson’s actions and subsequent denials caused considerable distress and hardship for the family involved.

During the sentencing hearing, Thompson, who now faces the possibility of being discharged from the army, pleaded guilty to manslaughter but maintained that he did not intend to cause serious harm or death. Defence counsel Mark George argued that Thompson’s actions were the result of a loss of self-control, emphasizing that Kieran was a well-cared-for child and that the death was not the result of prolonged abuse.

Mr. Justice Saunders, presiding over the case, acknowledged Thompson’s guilty plea but noted that limited credit could be given due to his initial denial and failure to admit guilt sooner. The judge highlighted that the medical evidence pointed to either shaking or a blow inflicted upon Kieran, which was entirely inconsistent with proper child care. While recognizing that Thompson did not intend to kill Kieran, the judge emphasized the gravity of taking a young life.

In a statement released outside the court, Mrs. Thompson expressed her intention to pursue divorce proceedings. She described the incident as involving substantial violence and stated that Thompson’s guilty plea was a step towards accepting responsibility. She paid tribute to Kieran, describing him as a happy and beautiful boy, and expressed her profound grief over the loss of her son, stating that Thompson’s actions had deprived her of her beloved child and that she was struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.