Father who murdered four-month-old daughter when she cried as he played Call of Duty jailed for life
Father, 29, who murdered his teething four-month-old daughter when she cried as he played Call of Duty by punching and shaking her, causing ‘immense pain and suffering’ is jailed for life
- Jordan Lee shouted at baby Willow before shaking and punching her to death
- The 29-year-old initially lied about her injuries and said she fell from the sofa
- But he was convicted and has been jailed for life with a minimum of 16 years
A father who brutally murdered his four-month-old daughter after she cried while he was playing Call of Duty has been jailed for a minimum of 16 years.
Jordan Lee, 29, who was given a life sentence at Preston Crown Court on Friday, was heard shouting at baby Willow Lee to ‘shut up’ before carrying out the ‘horrific assault’ on December 3 last year, a spokesman for Lancashire Police said.
In police interview, Lee claimed Willow, who was teething at the time, suffered her injuries after falling from the sofa while he played a computer game at their home in Onslow Road, Blackpool.
Jordan Lee has been jailed after killing his four-month-old daughter Willow at their Blackpool home
But he was convicted by a jury after a Home Office pathologist found that the baby’s death was a direct consequence of a traumatic head injury, consistent with forceful shaking and probable impact to the head, the police spokesman said.
Willow’s mother, Jade Bell, said: ‘Willow was such a beautiful, happy baby that had the best cheeky smile, and that smile would always cheer you up and light up the room.
‘We all miss her dearly and there are not enough words to express that.’
A CPS spokesman said neighbours heard a baby crying, a man shouting at her to shut up and a series of bangs before the house fell silent.
Lee, 29, who was given a life sentence at Preston Crown Court on Friday, was heard shouting at baby Willow Lee Ipictured) to ‘shut up’ before carrying out the ‘horrific assault’
Police said Willow also suffered extensive bruising to her ear, face and arm which a pathologist found was likely to have been the result of gripping, pinching or squeezing, punching or slapping and would have caused ‘immense pain and suffering’.
Willow was taken to hospital after she was found with serious injuries but died three days later.
Detective Inspector Mark Dickinson said: ‘Willow Lee was a four-month-old baby who died at the hands of someone who should have protected her – her father, Jordan Lee.
‘Lee carried out a horrendous series of assaults on his daughter, leaving her with catastrophic head injuries. These injuries led to her death three days later.
‘Thankfully the jury saw through his lies and he has now been found guilty of and sentenced for Willow’s murder.
‘Willow’s mother and wider family have been left utterly heartbroken by her death and I have no doubt they will never fully recover from this horrendous loss.’
Victoria Agullo, for the CPS, said: ‘This is a tragic case involving the death of a small, defenceless baby at the hands of the person who should have loved and cared for her.
‘He lost control when she wouldn’t stop crying and caused her catastrophic head injuries.’
The little girl was rushed to the Blackpool Victoria Hospital (pictured) and later taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where she sadly died three days later, on December 6
