A CRUEL father has been sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison for murdering his infant son by inflicting “catastrophic” brain injuries on the tot.
Craig Rowland, 30, was last year found guilty of little Lewis Oliver Rowland’s murder in Co Antrim after the child was “violently shaken” until he was left with brain injuries.
The injuries resulted in their child being unable walk or talk and having to be fed through a nasal tube.
Little Lewis was put into care with foster parents and he died in the arms of his foster mother three years later in October 2018.
It was the prosecution’s case that the brain injuries were a “significant cause of his death.”
In October last year a jury found father Craig, of Millington Park in Portadown, guilty of his murder.
He was sentenced to life at Belfast Crown Court and today found out that he must serve a minimum 20 year prison term before he can be considered for parole.
Sentencing him today, Mr Justice O’Hara said he had serious concerns about his continued failure to accept responsibility for what happened and his absence of any empathy.
Lewis’ mother Laura Graham also appeared before court having previously pleaded guilty to child cruelty.
Today, the 32-year-old was sentenced to three years probation and 100 hours of community service.
The trial was told Lewis had been taken to hospital in Craigavon by his father and mother and transferred to Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital with a brain bleed later that day.
The injury left Lewis permanently and severely disabled.
Examinations also revealed that he had suffered a spinal injury, had a rib fracture and multiple bruises on his neck, head and chest.
Both parents had pleaded guilty to child cruelty for not immediately bringing their son to hospital when they knew he was seriously injured.
The pair had opted to walk to hospital rather than call an ambulance.
‘VIOLENTLY SHAKEN’
Detective Chief Inspector Kerrie Foreman from the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team today told how a probe began after three-month-old, Lewis was admitted to hospital with “catastrophic injuries” in 2018.
She said: “An investigation, which began in line with the initial injuries, later turned into a murder inquiry when, tragically, the little one passed away on 20 October 2018.
“Lewis was just three years old when his young life was cut short.
“Distressingly, expert medical examinations concluded that baby Lewis had been violently shaken, the ferocity of which left him with a permanent brain injury.
‘INNOCENT LIFE’ TAKEN
“The injuries, inflicted by his father, led to his subsequent and untimely death.”
Det Chief Insp Foreman said Rowland was “finally held accountable” today.
She continued: “This, however, remains a totally tragic and distressing case, in which the most cowardly and brutal of actions have taken a young, defenceless and innocent life.
“After Lewis sustained his initial injuries he was taken into the care of a foster family.
“The care, attention and kindness, which this family gave to Lewis, are in stark contrast to the cruelty demonstrated by his own father.
“My thoughts are with the foster family and those loved ones who continue to grieve, and indeed with all who have been touched by the sadness of the murder of young Lewis Rowland.”
