Father Admits Throwing Baby Son to the Floor in Anger as He Faces Murder Trial Over Boy’s Death 14 Years Later

Lejaune Wood told jurors he was furious because his wife was spending too much time caring for their four-month-old son. He admits causing the baby’s serious injuries but denies murder, telling the court he never intended to cause him serious harm.

A father has admitted throwing his four-month-old son to the floor during an angry confrontation at the family home in west London, in a case involving injuries that allegedly contributed to the boy’s death 14 years later.

Lejaune Wood, 43, gave evidence at the Old Bailey in London on October 21, 2026, where he described the circumstances surrounding the incident on December 12, 2007. He told jurors that he was exhausted, stressed about financial difficulties and increasingly frustrated because he felt his wife was giving their baby too much attention.

Wood is charged with murdering his son, known as LJ, who died on December 6, 2021, at the age of 14. He denies the murder charge but has acknowledged that he caused the injuries the child suffered as an infant.

Argument Over His Wife’s Attention
The court heard that LJ was born eight weeks prematurely. His birth and his mother’s subsequent hospitalisation with a postnatal infection placed additional strain on the family, Wood told jurors.

Wood said he was working long hours and struggling financially. He described feeling exhausted and worried about his circumstances, claiming that he was desperate for his wife, Paquita, to spend more time with him.

On the morning of December 12, 2007, Wood called to his wife, who was in the kitchen caring for their baby. He asked her to return to bed, but she explained that she needed to feed LJ.

Wood told the court that he became angry because he believed she was spending too much time with their son and not enough time with him.

He admitted grabbing the baby from his wife’s arms while she was turning away. According to his testimony, he pulled the infant without properly supporting his body, causing the baby’s head to fall back.

Wood said his wife attempted to intervene, but he pushed her, causing her to fall. He then admitted throwing LJ to the floor with considerable force.

The defendant told jurors that he was overwhelmed by anger at the time. He claimed he did not intend to seriously injure the child, describing his actions as an angry reaction during the argument.

Baby Suffered Severe Injuries
Following the incident, LJ was crying, and Wood said he eventually picked him up and attempted to settle him.

The court heard that Paquita suggested taking the baby to hospital to have him examined. However, Wood admitted that he wanted to wait a couple of days to see whether the child improved.

Initially, Wood said he had not recognised the extent of the injuries. His wife later noticed that the baby’s arm appeared limp and that he had a swelling on his head.

On December 14, two days after the incident, the couple decided that LJ needed medical attention. Paquita took him to Hillingdon Hospital while Wood went to work.

Medical examinations revealed that the infant had suffered a broken arm and ribs, a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.

The injuries had devastating consequences for the child. LJ survived but was left with severe, life-changing disabilities and required extensive care throughout his life.

The prosecution alleges that the injuries sustained during the 2007 incident ultimately contributed to his death in December 2021.

Father Says He Never Intended to Cause Serious Harm
During his testimony, Wood accepted that his actions had caused LJ’s injuries and acknowledged that what he had done was unlawful.

However, he told the jury that he had not intended to cause his son serious harm when he grabbed him from his mother and threw him to the floor.

Wood explained that he wanted his wife to pay attention to him instead of focusing on their baby. He described feeling increasingly frustrated by the pressures he said he was experiencing at the time.

He also discussed the couple’s financial difficulties, his demanding work schedule and the stress surrounding the birth and care of their premature child.

The defence account centres in part on Wood’s claim that he did not intend to inflict serious injury. Nevertheless, his admissions concerning the assault and the medical evidence are central to the proceedings.

The jury must assess his testimony alongside the prosecution’s evidence when deciding whether the murder charge has been proved.

Investigation Into LJ’s Death
LJ died on December 6, 2021, more than 14 years after the incident that left him with serious injuries as a baby.

According to evidence reported during the proceedings, medical findings linked his death to complications associated with the earlier injuries.

Wood was arrested on suspicion of murder following his son’s death and was subsequently charged.

The lengthy period between the original incident and the death forms an important part of the case, with the prosecution alleging a connection between the injuries inflicted in 2007 and the complications that ultimately proved fatal.

The trial is examining both the circumstances of the original assault and the medical evidence concerning LJ’s death.

Trial Continues at the Old Bailey
Wood’s evidence has provided jurors with his account of the events that took place inside the family home in Hayes, west London, in December 2007.

Although he has admitted throwing his son to the floor and causing serious injuries, he continues to deny murder. The prosecution must prove the charge, and the jury will consider the evidence before reaching a verdict.

The case has drawn attention to the long-term consequences of serious injuries inflicted on a vulnerable infant and the difficult questions surrounding responsibility when a child dies years after an alleged assault.

Proceedings at the Old Bailey were continuing as of October 23, 2026. No final verdict had been reported in the sources available for this article.

Source: The Mirror – Lejaune Wood trial and court evidence