News
Baby boy’s killer found guilty after violent assault
Jensen-Lee Dougal was characterized as a contented infant, however, he succumbed to fatal complications stemming from severe brain injuries.
This article contains disturbing content that may be upsetting to readers.
A 29-year-old man has been convicted of murdering his partner's five-month-old infant.
Jensen-Lee Dougal, a baby who was loved by his family, suffered fatal brain injuries on 31 March 2024 at the hands of Thomas Morgan, who was caring for him at the time.
Morgan had been looking after Jensen-Lee when he lost control and violently shook the baby, following a heated text exchange with an ex-partner that had left him enraged.
The jury at Swansea Crown Court viewed disturbing CCTV footage showing Morgan carrying a limp and unresponsive Jensen-Lee out of their home on Players Avenue in Clydach, Swansea.
The baby's injuries were extensive and included severe brain damage, multiple bone fractures, and bleeding behind his eye.
Medical examinations also revealed fractures to Jensen-Lee's ribs, while the brain injury was described by medical experts as having a devastating impact.
The court heard from expert witnesses who stated that the severity of Jensen-Lee's injuries was among the worst they had encountered in their careers.
Throughout the four-week trial, the jury was presented with distressing evidence detailing the violent shaking of Jensen-Lee.
At the time of the incident, Morgan was in a relationship with Jensen-Lee's mother, Jordan Dougal, and had been living with the family since mid-January 2024, effectively becoming the baby's stepfather.
Jordan Dougal described her son as a happy and contented baby, and stated that she had never had any concerns about Morgan's ability to care for him, believing that they had found a stable family unit.
Morgan was described by Jordan Dougal as being excellent with her son and his own children from a previous relationship.
However, on 30 March 2024, Morgan's behaviour changed, and he violently shook Jensen-Lee while in a state of rage.
Instead of immediately calling emergency services, Morgan contacted his partner, Jordan Dougal, and then asked neighbours to call for an ambulance.
The judge, Justice Stacey, acknowledged the efforts of those who performed CPR on Jensen-Lee while waiting for medical help to arrive.
Prosecuting counsel, Caroline Rees KC, argued that Morgan had attempted to deceive the court by fabricating a false account of events.
Professor Stavros Stivaros, an expert from Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, testified that Jensen-Lee's brain and spinal cord had suffered catastrophic bleeding, despite there being no visible signs of injury.
He stated that the force used to shake the baby would have been so extreme that anyone witnessing it would have intervened to stop it immediately.
The doctor also testified that the shaking would have rendered Jensen-Lee unconscious almost instantly, and that it could not have been caused by rough play or attempts at resuscitation.
Jensen-Lee was rushed to University Hospital Wales in Cardiff, where he suffered a cardiac arrest, and ultimately passed away on 31 March 2024, after life-support was withdrawn, in the presence of his mother.
Jordan Dougal told the court that she had made the decision to withdraw life-support, as she did not want her son to be confined to a machine for the rest of his life, preferring to remember him as the happy baby he once was.
As the verdict was delivered, Morgan showed no emotion, while Jensen-Lee's family members in the public gallery were visibly distraught.
Judge Justice Stacey expressed her gratitude to the jury for their service during what she described as a deeply troubling trial.
The judge also thanked the legal teams and law enforcement officers involved in the case, as well as Jensen-Lee's family, who had endured a difficult and emotional trial.
Morgan was also found guilty of one count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but was acquitted of two additional counts of the same offense.
Morgan is scheduled to be sentenced on 25 February.
Detective Inspector Lianne Rees of South Wales Police stated that while the conviction brings some measure of justice, it cannot alleviate the profound sorrow and heartbreak experienced by Jensen-Lee's family.
She praised the efforts of the public, emergency responders, and others who had worked tirelessly to save Jensen-Lee's life.
The detective inspector also expressed her appreciation for the family's courage and resilience throughout the investigation and trial, as well as the dedication of the teams involved in the case.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.
He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
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