MAN CONVICTED OF KILLING FIVE-MONTH-OLD STEPSON AFTER RAGE BINGE
---------------------UPDATE----------------- Jordan Dougal explained to the court that she decided to turn off her son’s life support, reasoning that he would remain connected to machines for the rest of his life, and she preferred to remember him as a happy baby.She described Jensen-Lee as a child who loved being sung to, cuddled by family members, and said she never heard him say 'I love you,' call her 'mammy,' take his first steps, or start school.
Dougal expressed her grief over trusting Morgan with her child’s care, stating she is now overwhelmed by emotional pain and finds daily life extremely difficult.
The court noted that Dougal believed Morgan showed no genuine remorse as he continued his life, including announcing his new partner’s pregnancy on the anniversary of Jensen-Lee’s death.
Mrs.
Justice Stacey sentenced Morgan to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 18 years and 136 days before parole could be considered, taking into account his time on remand.
She described his actions as the murder of an entirely defenseless baby weighing just 12.5 pounds (6 kg).
She detailed that after dropping Dougal at work and returning home, Morgan engaged in a heated WhatsApp argument with the mother of his children that lasted 90 minutes, exchanging 82 abusive messages that likely provoked his anger.
The judge highlighted that the family will never know what transpired between Morgan arriving home at 4:30 pm and his first call to Dougal at 5:20 pm, as Morgan lied to police and others about the events.
Mrs.
Stacey listed Jensen-Lee’s injuries—including a subdural bleed, hypoxic-ischemic injury, and retinal damage—as well as fractures to his elbow and ankles, consistent with shaking.
Post-trial, NSPCC Cymru’s Carl Harris called the attack brutal, expressing sorrow for Jensen-Lee’s suffering and reaffirming the vulnerability of young children to abuse, given their dependence on adults for safety.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- A 29-year-old man has been found guilty of the murder of his partner’s five-month-old infant.
Jensen-Lee Dougal, a child described by relatives as a joyful baby who was cherished, died on 31 March 2024 as a result of severe brain injuries caused by Thomas Morgan.
Morgan was responsible for caring for Jensen-Lee when he violently shook him in a moment of anger, which was triggered by an abusive text exchange with Morgan’s former girlfriend.
At Swansea Crown Court, jurors observed distressing CCTV footage depicting Morgan carrying Jensen-Lee’s limp, seemingly unresponsive body out of their home on Players Avenue, Clydach, Swansea.
The injuries included serious brain damage, several broken bones, and bleeding behind the baby’s eye.
Additional evidence showed fractures to the ribs, with neurosurgeons describing the brain injury as 'devastating.' Medical witnesses testified that Jensen-Lee’s injuries were among the worst they had ever encountered, involving catastrophic brain bleeding and spinal trauma without obvious external signs.
Eyewitnesses recounted how the force of the shaking was so intense that someone across the street would have felt compelled to intervene.
It was revealed that Jensen-Lee lost consciousness quickly during the assault, and his injuries could not be mistaken for rough handling or resuscitation attempts.
Following the incident, Morgan initially contacted his partner before instructing neighbors to call emergency services.
The judge acknowledged those who performed CPR before paramedics arrived.
Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC stated Morgan had fabricated lies to hide his guilt.
Jensen-Lee was transported to Cardiff’s University Hospital Wales, where he suffered a cardiac arrest and ultimately died after life support was withdrawn.
His mother, Jordan Dougal, expressed her wish to remember her son as a happy baby, not as a patient on life support.
Morgan, from Gorseinon, showed no emotion when the verdict was announced, while Jensen-Lee’s family responded with tears as the jury reached a unanimous decision.
Judge Stacey called the case particularly tragic and thanked the jury, legal teams, police, and family members for their resilience during the lengthy trial.
Morgan was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent on one count and was acquitted of two similar charges.
Sentencing is scheduled for 25 February.
Detective Inspector Lianne Rees stated that while the conviction provides some closure, it cannot replace the loss experienced by the family.
She also commended the efforts of emergency responders and the dignity maintained by Jensen-Lee’s family throughout the process.
---------------------------UPDATE----------------- Thomas Morgan, 29, has been convicted of murdering five‑month‑old Jensen‑Lee Dougal at the family home in Swansea.
Jurors at Swansea Crown Court were told the baby died in hospital after sustaining fatal brain injuries, multiple fractures and severe retinal bleeding.
Morgan, of Gorseinon, Swansea, claimed he tried to save Jensen-Lee's life when he started choking, but a jury found the 29-year-old guilty on Tuesday (February 10), according to The Mirror.
The man had been in a relationship with Jensen-Lee's mother, Jordan Dougal, and was treated as the baby’s stepdad, the court was told.
Morgan "seriously abused the trust placed in him" by attacking Jensen-Lee on March 30, 2024, the day before his death, prosecutor Caroline Rees KC said.
The 29-year-old argued with Georgia Griffiths, his former partner, earlier that day, and was left alone with Jensen-Lee as his mother went to work.
After the attack, Morgan called Ms Dougal, telling her the baby was choking and had stopped breathing, the court heard.
The baby was taken to hospital, where he was found to have suffered a "devastating" brain injury and was taken off life support the following day.
"The defendant, his temper raised and his fuse short after an argument with Georgia Griffiths, must have snapped and shaken Jensen-Lee with such violence that he caused devastating injuries which led to Jensen-Lee’s death in his mother’s arms at only five months old," Ms Rees said.
Morgan denied inflicting serious injuries on Jensen-Lee and said he tried to save the baby after he fell ill in his care.
He is due to be sentenced at a later date.
