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Dad's Sentence Raised for Baby's Fatal Shaking
3 Dec
Summary
- Father's sentence increased for shaking baby daughter to death.
- He was heavily intoxicated with cannabis during the fatal attack.
- Minimum prison term extended by two years on appeal.
Thomas Holford, who was convicted of murdering his infant daughter by shaking her, has had his prison sentence extended. Initially sentenced to life with a minimum of 16 years, Holford's minimum term was increased by two years following an appeal by the Solicitor General. The Court of Appeal determined the original sentence was unduly lenient, particularly given Holford's state of heavy cannabis intoxication during the fatal incident.
The baby, Everleigh Stroud, was just five weeks old when she was left in her father's sole care on April 20, 2021. Holford inflicted severe brain and bone injuries by shaking her. Everleigh endured more than a year in hospital before her death on May 27, 2022, at 14 months old. Holford's regular and excessive cannabis use was highlighted as a key aggravating factor.
Appellate judges noted that Holford deliberately consumed substantial amounts of cannabis, knowing he would be the sole caregiver that night, a decision that risked his daughter's life. Despite arguments from Holford's defense, the court found his actions and the resulting harm warranted a longer minimum sentence, emphasizing that the responsibility for Everleigh's death lay solely with him.
