Jordan Lee, a young dad from Blackpool, faces a life sentence with a minimum of 16 years for being guilty of axing Willow, his four-month-old daughter, to death. The sentencing came through on Friday by the Preston Crown Court.
According to BBC, Lee, 29, allegedly tried to silence the infant before carrying out the disturbing assault at his home in Onslow Road on Dec. 3, 2020. Lee’s wife was at work at the time the incident happened.
In a hearing at the Court, Lee was also accused of changing the narrative over the course of repeated questioning that followed soon after Willow’s death. At the onset of the police questioning, the court heard how Lee attributed the baby’s tragic death to an accidental fall from the sofa, while he was playing "Call of Duty" on Xbox.
But, he swiftly changed his stance after a shocking reveal came to light when a home office pathologist’s reports came by. The medical reports traced the baby’s death to a deep head injury, in addition to succumbing to extensive bruising to her ears, face, and arm.
Willow was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital before being transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on Dec. 6. She was surrounded by her mum and grandparents at the time of her passing.
The report further indicated that the grave injuries were a result of severe trauma that couldn’t be possible to have been merely caused by a trivial childhood incident.
Upon confrontation, Lee swiftly changed the story and then claimed how his daughter suffered from an accident as he carried her upstairs, Daily Star reported.
Neighbors had informed that they heard the baby’s wails followed by a man’s hollering and a series of bangs before deadly silence ensued. Detective Inspector Mark Dickinson commented on the horrific incident and opined that Willow had met with an untimely end in the hands of someone who should’ve protected her.
Dickinson also expressed his gratitude to the jury for seeing through Lee's lies and commended the deceased infant’s mother for placing faith in the system and handing over evidence in a rather dignified approach, at a time when the family was left heartbroken.
