A senior investigating police officer has stated that a man who violently shook and threw a baby in a fit of rage showed “no remorse”.

Davey Everson, 23, was found guilty at St Albans Crown Court of the murder of three-month-old Millie Rose Burdett, who died in hospital in January 2019.

Millie Rose's mother, and Everson's partner, Kirsty Burdett, was also in court and she was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of her daughter.

Millie Rose suffered a catalogue of injuries during her short life, including 23 broken bones, and she was never able to recover from a bleed on the brain she received in December 2018 after being shook by Everson at Burdett's home in Rickmansworth.

These included fractures to multiple ribs, leg fractures and compression fractures to her spine. Medical experts believe that Millie had been shaken ‘violently and forcefully’ on more than one occasion.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Iain Macpherson, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, shared his thoughts on the incident.

He said: “This is a tragic and heart-breaking case that has resulted in the death of an innocent baby.

“Everson is a dangerous and cruel man who has showed no remorse for what he has done. He made no comment throughout police interviews and has never explained how defenceless Millie-Rose suffered her fatal injuries.

“Burdett put her own interests before her child and failed in her fundamental duty to keep her safe from harm. She protected Everson, telling others that bruising to her baby’s face had been caused by her falling from a car seat when in fact Everson was responsible. "

Davey Everson pictured outside St Albans Crown Court on the first day of the trial. Credit: South Beds News Agency

Davey Everson pictured outside St Albans Crown Court on the first day of the trial. Credit: South Beds News Agency

Insp Iain Macpherson continued: “On another occasion Burdett witnessed Everson force a bottle into Mille-Rose’s mouth causing it to bleed but despite this Burdett still left her daughter alone with Everson and continued her relationship with him.

“Our focus was to achieve justice for Millie-Rose, and this investigation has given her a voice.”

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The court heard that Everson caused the final, fatal injury to Millie by shaking her and throwing her against a surface such as into her cot.

The baby girl tragically died in hospital aged just three months on January 11, 2019, after intensive care support was withdrawn.

Witnesses, including a social worker, health visitor and family members, described Everson being "heavy-handed" and "rough" when feeding Millie Rose, including causing bruising to her face when he winded her. He was referred for parenting classes by the social worker.

Kirsty Burdett was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child. Credit: South Beds News Agency

Kirsty Burdett was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child. Credit: South Beds News Agency

On the first day of the trial, prosecutor David Spens QC said Millie Rose had been taken to Watford General Hospital on November 20 2018, after she had been "screaming in pain".

On Thursday (February 3), following a trial lasting just over three weeks at St Albans Crown Court, the jury unanimously convicted Everson of murder. He was also convicted of a charge of cruelty to a person aged under 16 involving another young child who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The baby’s mother, 25-year-old Kirsty Burdett stood trial alongside Everson for causing/allowing the death of her baby daughter and the neglect of a person aged under 16, which relates to another young child who cannot be named for legal reasons. She was convicted of both charges.

Everson and Burdett are both due to be sentenced at The Old Bailey in London on Friday (February 12).