A 29-year-old father caused his baby son ‘brain damage’ after violently shaking him in a ‘fit of rage’ and refusing to bring him to hospital has been jailed for his murder.
Craig Rowland was convicted last year of murdering three-year-old Lewis Roland who died in October 2018 from surgery complications.
The helpless infant had sustained life-changing injuries following the incident in November 2013. It occurred when he was just 13 weeks old.
At Rowland’s sentencing hearing, his actions were described by a senior detective as ‘cowardly and brutal’.
The hearing also saw Judge Justice O’Hara tell court that Lewis’ death was a direct result of the injuries given to him by his father.
Rowland was previously sentenced to life for the murder but today saw the implementation of a tariff which means he must serve a minimum of 20 years behind bars. He was given an additional 12 month sentence for a child cruelty charge.
Laura Graham, 32, who was Lewis’ mother, received a three year probationary sentence for the neglect of her son.
Rowland and Graham had brought baby Lewis to Craigavon Hospital in November 2015 where he was diagnosed with multiple serious injuries including head trauma and spinal injuries. The judge added that those injuries were ‘non-accidental’.
The child was then transferred to hospital in Belfast where his life was saved, but he was left with permanent and severe disabilities.
In 2018, he underwent surgery to insert a device to enable feeding and medication.
However, complications arose and he died on October 20 2018 in the arms of his foster mother.
