Mehmet Tufan violently shook his own son Leo Williams, four, leaving him with a catastrophic brain injury which led to his premature death, Liverpool Crown Court heard
The heartbroken mother of a little boy killed by his own dad told her vicious ex “you were not the victim” in a scathing statement at court.
Leo Williams died four years after his father shook him so violently he was left blind and suffering with a “catastrophic” brain injury.
“Jealous” Mehmet Tufan, 30, turned on his own child in a fit of “frustration or anger” after having a row with Leo’s mum over text message. He became jealous after his partner, 22, sent him a text saying: “Some lad come over trying to get me up to dance.”
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He then tried to cover his tracks as doctors and paramedics fought to save the toddler’s life.
Leo’s mum told Liverpool Crown Court she will “regret choosing to go out that night forever” as she blasted her ex for “leaving their son lifeless while he covered his tracks and made up lies”.
In a statement which was read out on her behalf, Leo’s mum told the court her son had been “incredible brave, strong and resilient throughout his short life”. She added: “He inspired me to stay strong and continue to live for him, so that I could make him proud and give him justice.
“I always wanted to be a mother, and I couldn’t have been any more in love with this little boy. I was in my bubble. I was so happy and in love with being a mum to a gorgeous boy. I felt like nothing could take my happiness away. This was until our lives were changed forever on the 13th of April 2018.”
She said she left the little one with “someone I thought I could trust”, “who would protect and care for Leo”, reports the ECHO.
“Leo sustained massive injuries at your hands, a beautiful, innocent, defenceless baby, shaken and abused then left there lifeless while you made excuses, covered your tracks and made up lies to excuse your anger. Anger for what exactly?,” she added.
“You knew exactly what you had done and the impact this had on Leo, yet you chose to pretend you had been helping and making out you were a victim. You were not a victim and never were.”
In the harrowing statement, she said Tufan had stolen all the first moments she’d hoped to experience as a mum, like his first steps and special moments at school. Instead, he was left with a “lifetime of immense pain until my little fighter couldn’t take any more”.
Though the “little fighter battled on”, his mum was left having to care for the youngster “every single day” so he coud be “as comfortable and loved as he could possibly be”.
She added: “I didn’t know how long I would have my beautiful boy by my side. I was completely heartbroken watching his gradual decline. Leo tried so hard to fight.
“On the 14th of December 2022, we were given the devastating news that my little boy was losing his battle. It was then that I lost him for the second time. This time, I lost him forever. I will never get over the pain of losing him.
“Life will never be the same without Leo. He was my everything, and in a way he still is. Leo now has a little brother who he will never meet. I will one day tell him about Leo, although I could never explain why he could never meet him.
“I will forever walk around with a piece of my heart missing, hoping that this piece will be replaced when we meet again in a world where Leo no longer has pain, where he is free to run up to me and hug me just like it always should have been. I will miss you forever my beautiful boy.”
Tufan initially confessed to inflicting grievous bodily harm in connection with the assault on the basis of a “momentarily loss of control”, receiving a two-year jail sentence in 2019.
Leo was however left with permanent disabilities, including being rendered blind and suffering from “significant neurological impairment”.
This led to several periods of treatment in Alder Hey and Claire House Children’s Hospice. He was admitted to the latter facility in November 2022 as a result of intestinal failure, sustained as a result of the difficulties he had developed after being shaken by his dad, and ultimately died at the age of only four years and nine months on December 15.
Following Leo’s death, Tufan was charged with his son’s manslaughter earlier this year.
Tufan admitted the further count of manslaughter during a previous hearing in July. He was seen in tears and with his head in his hands at times during the hearing before being handed six-and-a-half years in prison.
In his sentencing remarks, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC said it was “right” to mention the mum’s “extraordinary courage”.
He said: “Her grief will last a lifetime. It is right that I should record the extraordinary courage shown by his mother. She bore the daily burden of her son’s suffering in order to give him comfort and dignity. Her strength in these years stands as a powerful testament for her love for Leo.
“His life was dominated by suffering. He required 24-hour care until he succumbed to the complications of his injuries. Since then, you have lived with the consequences of what you did. I am told that you now have a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. You have attempted suicide and self medicated with cocaine, and continue to be socially isolated.
“It seems to me that you were someone who was prone to issues to do with jealousy and being left on your own. It may be that you were an inexperienced parent, but it is likely that, in temper, you lost control and behaved in the way that you did.
“This was obviously a particularly vulnerable victim, a defenceless baby who was completely reliant on you for his care. There was also a delay in calling for emergency help. It may be that that was a result of panic, but it must have been obvious to you that your immediate action ought to have been to dial 999 and not to delay for what might have been a significant period.”
Tufan’s sentence was reduced from seven-and-a-half years to take account of his previous two-year prison term.