Father Admits Flinging Infant Son, Allegedly Causing Fatal Injuries Years Later

A father has admitted to flinging his infant son onto the floor in a fit of rage, an action that allegedly caused injuries from which the child died 14 years later. Lejaune Wood, 43, testified at the Old Bailey that he was "losing my mind" but never intended to seriously harm his four-month-old son, LJ, at their home in Hayes, west London.

Wood also admitted that he suggested waiting two days before his wife, Paquita, took LJ to the hospital on December 12, 2007. At that time, the infant had sustained a broken arm and ribs, a fractured skull, and bleeding on the brain. LJ died on December 6, 2021, at the age of 14, allegedly from complications related to the assault. Wood was subsequently charged with murder.

Wood, who works the night shift at a hotel, recounted the moment he "yanked" the baby from his wife's arms. He told jurors he was frustrated and angry with himself, experiencing significant sleep deprivation due to long working hours and financial struggles. "I was literally trying my best to put food on the table – and at that I was failing," he stated.

Originally from Barbados, Wood was adopted and became a German citizen at age three. He moved to the UK in 2005 and met his wife at a hotel where they both worked. He described feeling both anxious and happy about his wife's unplanned pregnancy. LJ's premature birth, eight weeks early, added strain, and Wood expressed fear of losing his wife after she was hospitalized with a postnatal infection. "Our life was really stressed. It was very strained. It was kind of like living one day to the next," he testified.

The couple had reportedly argued about parenting styles, influenced by their differing cultural backgrounds. On the morning of the incident, Wood stated he felt lonely and asked his wife to return to bed. When she explained she needed to care for LJ, he became agitated, telling her she was spending too much time with the baby and not enough with him.

Wood testified that he grabbed LJ by the arms while his wife was turning away, pulling the infant towards him forcefully and without support. He described the baby's head "flopping" as he felt "frustration and anger." When Paquita tried to intervene, Wood admitted to pushing her face, causing her to fall. "At this stage, I just had enough and I flung LJ to the floor," he told the court, describing the action as having "quite a bit of force."

Wood stated he "came to my senses" after LJ began crying, picked him up, and took him to the bathroom to cool him down. He later agreed to take LJ to the hospital after his wife pointed out the baby's "floppy" arm and a lump on his head. By December 14, 2007, both parents were reportedly worried, and Paquita took LJ to Hillingdon Hospital while Wood went to work.

Wood accepted that he caused LJ's injuries and that his actions were unlawful. However, he maintained that he did not intend to cause serious harm. When asked about his thoughts during the incident, Wood said he wanted to take LJ from his wife to get her attention. He described flinging the baby as a reaction of having "just had enough."

Wood denies murder, and the trial is ongoing.