James Paul Davis had no licence or insurance when he hit Ciaran Morris
A speeding motorist who killed a baby in a hit-and-run while the boy was on his first-ever outing in a pram has been jailed for more than six years.
James Paul Davis had no licence or insurance when he killed 18-day-old Ciaran Leigh Morris by hitting him in his BMW on April 4 last year while doing 67pmh in a 30mph zone.
The 35-year-old smashed into the pram which was being pushed by the infant’s parents, Camaron Morris and Codie Holyman, in the West Midlands.
The young parents, both aged 18 at the time, watched in horror as the Davis’ car mounted the kerb and pinned the pram against a wall in Brownhills, Walsall.
Horrified witnesses desperately tried to revive the tot by performing roadside CPR but he died hours later in hospital from his catastrophic injuries.
Dad-of-one Davis, of Bloxwich, West Midlands, went on trial accused of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death while uninsured and was on Friday convicted of both charges.
Davis was later sentenced to six and a half years jail at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Jurors heard previously how Davis claimed he was only doing 20mph and suffered from a heart problem that caused him to “blackout” moments before the crash. In the aftermath of the crash, frantic dad Camaron was heard to scream at Davis: “You just killed my son.”
Both parents also cried out “the baby, the baby” as they frantically tried to revive their son on the pavement. Davis was later found to have traces of cannabis in his system after he was arrested at his girlfriend’s house shortly afterwards.
James Curtis, QC, prosecuting, had told the court: “He did a manoeuvre which proved fatal. The defendant got out of his car and ran off on foot, down an alleyway, past a petrol station, and through some undergrowth.
“Once at a safe distance, he approached a passerby saying he killed a baby and was going down for a long time.
“This was a classic intentional distraction with fatal consequences.
“This was certainly dangerous driving. Clear disregard for the rules. Clear disregard for those around. He was not even insured.”
Police bodycam footage played to the court showed Davis telling PC Tom Rust as he was arrested: “A baby, f***s sake. I’m sorry bab. I blacked out, I was doing 20mph.
“I weren’t even speeding or nothing. I blacked out. I aint killed no one on purpose. F***ing hell man.”
Davis told the officer that injuries to his legs were from “running through the bushes”.
“I knew I passed because I knew it was happening, it was like a dream. I was thinking I’d wake up in a minute. I heard the banging and that. When it all stopped, I was in the car and I thought what’s happening like,” Davis told the officer.
“I was surrounded by people.
“My mate said I was passed out behind the wheel.
“If I was speeding I would be in some state wouldn’t I? I accept I’m going to prison if somebody’s died. “People were screaming ‘I killed a baby’ so I just wanted to see my baby before I go.”
Mum Codie suffered a broken collar bone and a bruised foot and has constant back pain as a result of the crash.
Related links:
- Desperate audio captures moment man begs mum not to turn him in for killing disabled man
- Chilling footage shows moment brothers slash police officers during shopping centre knife attack
- CCTV shows terrifying moment confessed killer tries to carry out a ‘massacre’ of his neighbours
- 90s pop star Sandra McKenzie was stabbed 49 times by raging neighbour – and lived to tell the tale
- Shocking CCTV captures teen being chased through streets before being murdered with ‘Rambo knife’
