Teenager jailed for shaking baby to death - just weeks after meeting his mum

A teenager has been handed an indefinite jail sentence after murdering his partner's four-month-old baby.

Carl Alesbrook, 19, was found guilty of murdering Elijah Shemwell on 11 July following a trial at Derby Crown Court.

Elijah died on 5 January 2022, three days after he was found in cardiac arrest at his mother's home in Belper, Derbyshire.

The baby suffered "catastrophic" brain injuries after being shaken by Alesbrook, who was 16 at the time. He had only met Elijah's mother India Shemwell seven weeks earlier.

Elijah also had whiplash-type injuries, limb and rib fractures, as well as 17 bruises around his chest, back and stomach consistent with grip marks, jurors at Derby Crown Court were told.

Medical evidence presented to the trial suggested Elijah had been shaken on at least three separate occasions, including New Year's Day and the day he was taken to hospital.

Alesbrook, from Matlock in Derbyshire, denied causing any harm to the child but was unanimously convicted of both murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a five-week trial in July. He was handed a minimum term of 14 years, minus the time he has already served.

Shemwell, the baby's now 23-year-old mother, was working away from home when Alesbrook shook Elijah.

She was also sentenced today - to three years in prison - after admitting two counts of child cruelty, including the fact that she did not dial emergency services more quickly after Elijah became unwell.

The day before Elijah was rushed to hospital, she had sent a video of him unresponsive with a floppy arm to friends on Facebook and had asked for their advice on his condition.

Jurors were told the mother also filmed video of Elijah struggling to breathe before she dialled 999 at 10.33pm on 2 January.

During her ex-partner's trial, Shemwell was described as a "thoroughly inadequate mother" who neglected Elijah but she was not accused of causing any injuries.

Alesbrook told the trial in July that he looked after Elijah alone while Shemwell, then 21, was working away from home.

The teenager had sent a Snapchat message to Shemwell using derogatory language towards Elijah just days before he suffered a cardiac arrest.

He denied in court he was "unduly angered or irritated" by the child.

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