A man has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend's 13-week-old baby in Kent following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court. According to BBC News, Tyla Wharmby, 24, of Prestedge Avenue in Ramsgate, was convicted on Thursday of both murder and grievous bodily harm with intent. The jury returned majority verdicts of 11–1 for murder and 10–2 for grievous bodily harm with intent, with deliberations lasting 15 hours and 19 minutes.
Hunter Hodges suffered catastrophic injuries to his head that experts compared to trauma from a high-speed motorcycle collision or a multi-level fall. The infant, who weighed just over 10 pounds and had been born eight weeks prematurely, died on the morning of 15 July 2022 after being airlifted to a London hospital from Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital in Margate. Wharmby was caring for the baby overnight while his partner, Shannon Hodges, slept; he is not Hunter's biological father.
What injuries did the baby sustain?
Forensic pathologist Dr Nathaniel Cary told the court that Hunter's injuries resulted from severe trauma consistent with being thrown to the floor or against a solid surface with direct impact. Consultant paediatric neurosurgeon Amedeo Calisto described the extent of the damage in stark terms, stating:
"Everything that could have been broken was broken here."
The court heard that post-mortem examinations revealed an older brain bleed in addition to the fatal injury. Medical experts said this earlier bleed was consistent with shaking and may have occurred up to five weeks before Hunter died, forming the basis of the grievous bodily harm conviction.
What did the defendant tell police?
Wharmby initially claimed to officers that he had woken at 04:00 to administer Calpol and a bottle to the infant. He stated he then woke approximately half an hour later to find Hunter screaming with a swollen back of the head.
"I took him into his mum, we called an ambulance and now we are here,"he told police. He was arrested later that same day.
Kent Police said the investigation found Wharmby had lied about the events before Hunter's death and had deliberately inflicted the fatal injury shortly before the emergency call. The court heard that Wharmby had visited a pornography website approximately 10 minutes before Hunter's mother called for an ambulance for the unresponsive infant.
What symptoms had the baby shown before his death?
Hunter had attended Margate hospital multiple times in the weeks preceding his death, presenting with repeated vomiting, mottled skin, and increased crying—all symptoms consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome. His mother expressed frustration to hospital staff on one occasion, saying:
"Look he is really not OK. I'm not going to keep coming back up here to be rushed off with antibiotics."
When the emergency call was made on the morning of his death, his mother told the 999 handler:
"My two-month-old son woke up this morning with a swollen head. Every time I touch his head he screams."Professor Safa Al-Sarraj, a consultant neuropathologist, testified that he had identified signs of traumatic brain injury caused by shaking, most likely inflicted within the month before Hunter's death. Wharmby had denied shaking the baby during this period.
What was the relationship between Wharmby and the family?
The prosecution outlined that Wharmby and Shannon Hodges had begun their relationship only in late May 2022, just weeks before Hunter's death. The pair had agreed that Wharmby would manage the baby's night-time care routine while the mother slept, an arrangement that placed the vulnerable infant in his sole care during the critical hours before the fatal injury occurred.
What did investigators say about the case?
Detective Inspector Adam Marshall described the investigation as deeply distressing and praised Hunter's family for their resilience.
"Throughout this lengthy and incredibly difficult process, Hunter's loved ones have shown remarkable courage and strength. Despite their immense grief, they provided vital evidence and remained steadfast in their support of the investigation. Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to come to term with their loss."
What happens next?
Wharmby is to be sentenced by trial judge Mrs Justice Foster at a later date, though no sentencing date has yet been announced. The case involved complex medical, forensic, and digital evidence that was examined throughout the investigation, which led to charges being filed on 22 February 2026.
