Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Thursday, 11th July 2024 at 15:44hrs
A man who killed his two year old son has been sentenced to life after being found guilty by a jury at Preston Crown Court.
In a statement released after the verdict, Lancashire Police said,
“Daniel Hardcastle killed Damion Russell in a brutal and sustained assault at their home in Central Drive, Blackpool in August last year.
Hardcastle claimed the youngster had injured himself after falling and hitting his head on a coffee table.
But a pathologist found the extensive injuries suffered by the little boy were inconsistent with that claim.
He determined Hardcastle had inflicted very severe injury to Damion by either forcefully shaking him and then banging his head against a solid object, such as a coffee table, or caused Damion’s head to come into contact with a solid object with such force that it caused Damion’s head to move backwards and forwards rapidly enough to cause the injuries to his neck and eyes.
Damion was taken to hospital following the assault, but his injuries were unsurvivable and he sadly died two days later.
Hardcastle (10/03/93) was found guilty of murder after a four-week trial at Preston Crown Court. The jury deliberated for just two hours before reaching a verdict.
The court heard that Damion had suffered horrendous injuries including a forceful adult human bite mark to his upper right thigh. He had also suffered fractured ribs and bruising across his body.
There was also a tear to the inside of his lip as if a drinking bottle had been forced into his mouth.
The jury were told Hardcastle, who had sole care of his son, had started drinking more in the days and weeks before the assault. He had isolated himself from his support network and the two nights immediately before he assaulted Damion and caused the injuries which killed him, he spent all night chatting to a woman he had met online.
Det Supt Al Davies, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: “First and foremost my thoughts today are with Damion’s loved ones. Like any young child Damion had the right to be loved and cherished by the man who should have done everything he could to protect him. Instead, he found himself subjected to a horrifically violent and sustained assault which caused the injuries which sadly led to his death.
“Only Daniel Hardcastle can say exactly what happened on that fateful day or why he did what he did, but this was no childhood accident that ended in tragedy. The nature and extent of the fatal injuries, deliberately inflicted by Hardcastle were done with intent to cause at least really serious harm and were the direct cause of Damion’s tragic death.
In a victim impact statement, Damions former step-mum said,
“Damion loved to laugh and chuckle. He had an amazing smile. He was bouncing back from his earlier troubles in life – a testament to how strong he was. When you walked towards him, he put his arms up and bounced up and down. You could see the excitement. He loved bath time and splashing around. He enjoyed being a cheeky chap and getting us wet. He was a sensory child, mesmerised by light and crinkled toys. He was beginning to explore the world and would have continued to explore and marvel given a chance.
He always gave a beaming smile to everyone lucky enough to interact with him. Much has been made of his walk, and his walk made me smile. He walked like a little duck. He was very affectionate and loved to snuggle up watching his favourite show, The Night Garden. He loved his evening routine of bath, pyjamas, and TV. I can’t emphasise enough what a delight he was, always a joy to be around.
It’s heartbreaking to know he will not get the chance to fulfil his potential. It was his birthday this week, and every year, I will think of the mielstones he missed. He will never start school. There were so many opportunities he will never grasp.
He was a brother leaving behind three biological siblings and has missed the chance to have that bond. His sisters will forever miss their brother. The pain we all have is a reflection of how special he was in life. I will always remember and miss the extraordinary place he had in our family.
I cannot begin to understand what he went through and how someone could do something so evil to someone so special. I felt I had to attend court and represent Damion, but realising the force and brutality of what happened to him breaks my heart. Words will never do justice to him. I will never understand why Damion wasn’t allowed to live his life. We are all worse off in a world without Damion. Being part of his life was a true honour that will stay with me forever.
In a victim impact statement, Damions Grandmother said,
“He loved to eat yoghurts and wasn’t keen on broccoli. He loved to play with toys and on his bike. He loved being outside and playing at the park. He made me happy. He made me proud. I loved to make him laugh. He had the most amazing laugh.
He loved to sing Old McDonald and would sing E-I-E-I-O at the animals in my cabinet. He was learning to count and would count the buttons on my cardigan. I loved to watch him grow and learn. His speech was getting really good.
He called me ‘Manma’ and when I close my eyes I picture him shouting Manma. He loved it when I stroked his arm. His birthday was this week. We made a little garden with forget me nots and balloons and had a little tea party.
I was ill in hospital when Damion died and didn’t get to say goodbye. I was given a memory box, which means the world to me. I have so many questions that will never be answered. I loved Damion so much, still do and always will.
Appearing in the dock today, Hardcastle has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years by Judge Mrs Justice Hill at Preston Crown Court this afternoon.
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