Twisted killer brutally murdered 6-month-old baby boy while the mother was at nail salon

A 33-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering his 19-year-old partner's newborn son after shaking him to death in a "tragic" case. Kieran Humphreys, of Bromley Gardens, was on his own, supposedly "looking after" his new partner Saskia Woodbridge's six-month-old baby Archie, while she got her nails done.

The court heard how the pair from Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, had only met a week before Archie's murder on February 9, 2024, in a local shop. Appearing in Luton Crown Court, Humphreys denied unlawfully killing Archie and pleaded not guilty to murder, manslaughter and child cruelty. Prosecuting Humphreys, Barrister Charlotte Newell KC, said that evidence had shown the 33-year-old had "gripped" and "shaken" the six-month-old, causing him to suffer a fatal brain injury.

Jurors heard that Humphreys had been "awake throughout the night" playing Call of Duty on Xbox.

She added that while Archie was teething, he had lost his temper and appeared to have killed Archie and that after he'd realised his actions, the murderer's priority wasn't to try and save the baby boy, but instead "save his own skin" as he attempted to cover his actions up.

After Archie's death, the court heard how Humphreys lied about the child's death.

Before calling emergency services, Humphreys took Archie from the scene, a friend's home in Dolphin Drive, to a relative's house in Bromley Gardens, with the help of his friend Karen Smith and Archie's mum.

A 999 call was then made, guiding paramedics to the Bromley Gardens address. The prosecutor told the court how CCTV from the house had shown the moments before the ambulance arrived with Saski Woodbridge phoning 999 while Kieran Humphreys, his mum Sharon and their friend Karen Smith tried to help Archie before paramedics arrived.

Saskia Woodbridge told police that Humphreys, his mother, and Smith "made her lie about what happened and when" with the group putting pressure on the new mum to not let Kieran be in "sole charge" of Archie.

The court also heard how Humphreys had admitted to conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Humphreys told police he was innocent, and the court heard how he told officers "I ain't being done for it", but the defendant did not choose to give evidence.

Jurors heard how Humphreys claimed to try to save Archie while he gasped and struggled to breathe while sleeping.

After being found guilty of Archie's murder as well as child cruelty, Judge Mr Justice Morris said he would sentence Humphreys on a date to be fixed.

Humphreys was remanded in custody, with Mr Justice Morris saying he would impose a mandatory life sentence.

Karen Smith, 40 of Dolphin Drive, Houghton Regis; her partner, Sam Wyatt, 36, of Dolphin Drive; and Sharon Humphreys, 59, of Bromley Gardens had also admitted conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Humphreys and the three co-defendants are due to be sentenced together.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gardner, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire major crime unit, said he hoped the verdict could bring the family some peace.

He added: "This was a deeply distressing case in which a defenceless baby lost his life at the hands of someone who should have been caring for him.

"Kieran Humphreys'actions reveal a distinctly self-serving approach, as his primary concern was tosave himself,rather than prioritising Archie's welfare, byattemptingto cover his tracks."