Coroner: Who wrote ‘murder’ on mirror?

Deputy coroner Fred Curtis stunned a hearing into 10-week-old Ashley Shaw’s death by asking for the author of the message to reveal himself, saying they were guilty of contempt of court.

The dead child’s uncle Richard Myatt, 38, admitted writing the word. He apologised and escaped further punishment.

The inquest heard that baby Ashley died after his father Ashley Dunnington, who was 18 at the time of the baby’s death, was allowed to look after him unsupervised for the first time.

Police and social services had been called in after bruises were found on Ashley. As a result, Mr Dunnington was told not to see him unsupervised for five weeks.

Mr Dunnington, a plant operator, split up with the baby’s mother Samantha Shaw, also 18, six months before the tragedy.

He was given care of the baby at his parents home in Skellow, Doncaster, in June 2009.

Mr Dunnington admitted at the inquest that he dropped Ashley from a “few inches” on his head, while trying to change him, and then “wobbled and shook” the baby when he stopped breathing.

Paramedics arrived within minutes but baby Ashley died three days later in hospital.

Pathological evidence suggested the baby, who died from lack of oxygen to the brain, may have suffered a non-accidental injury.

Ashley suffered brain damage, along with bleeding in both eyes, but experts were unable to say how he came about his injuries.

Mr Dunnington was arrested on suspicion of harming the baby through shaking. A file was sent to the CPS, but they said there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.

Recording an open verdict, Mr Curtis said the way Mr Dunnington shouted and tried to shake the baby back to life was “the sign of someone who is extremely naive with children”.

But he said there was no evidence of any intentional harm.