Driver, 34, charged with causing death of two-week-old baby in pram crash ‘sent death threats’ as he appears in court
A DRIVER accused of causing the death of a two-week-old boy has been sent death threats, a court heard today.
James Paul Davis, 34, appeared in the dock after baby Ciaran Leigh Morris was hit by a car on his first outing on Easter Sunday.
Davis was allegedly driving his BMW without insurance or a licence when he smashed into the pram being wheeled in by parents Camaron Morris and Codie Holyman, both 18, in Brownhills near Walsall, West Midlands.
Prosecutor Mark Cooper said that “tensions were running high in the community” as a result of “the tragic case”.
Mr Cooper said that threats had been made against the defendant, saying: “There are persons wishing to attack and assault him.”
His defence lawyer Sarbjit Lalli said that “the death of a two week old child is emotive” and his client was only told the baby had died while in custody.
THREATS MADE
He was denied conditional bail and remanded in custody partly for his own protection by District Judge David Murray.
Ciaran’s parents paid a heartfelt tribute to their newborn son yesterday.
They said: “Mommy’s and daddy’s hearts will always ache, we love you more than anything.”
During the 20-minute hearing grey-dark haired Davis sat with his arms folded dressed in prison issue grey T-shirt and joggers.
He was flanked by two dock officers and was wearing a grey T-shirt and jogging bottoms. Davis will next appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on May 4.
Yesterday, Camaron and Codie held each other for support when they visited the tragic scene 24 hours after Ciaran was killed.
They paid an emotional tribute to their premature son, born almost a month early, after he was killed on his “first outing”.
In a statement issued on their behalf by police, the couple said: “We didn’t get to keep you for long but we are happy we had the chance to meet you, look after you and call you our son.
“Fly high angel.”
There are persons wishing to attack and assault him
Prosecutor Mark Cooper
Flowers were laid at the scene of the tragic crash and the boy’s great aunt said the family has been left “heartbroken”.
Lisa Forde, 58, from Brownhills, West Mids, said: “It’s just heartbreaking.
“I don’t think there’s anything else I can say, my mind’s gone blank.”
Camaron and Codie posted pictures of their newborn son on Facebook on March 18.
In another post, Codie, who studied at Walsall College, proudly uploaded a picture of their son wearing a cute animal-print jumper and bottoms.
Camaron, who says he works at McDonald’s, also posted a picture of him holding Ciaran shortly after his birth.
Relatives said Ciaran was born three and a half weeks early “so shouldn’t even have been here”.
The young parents were said to have been “hysterical” following the horror crash.
A heroic man “in his late 20s” tried desperately to save Ciaran by performing CPR until paramedics arrived.
He was taken to hospital, but tragically could not be saved.
A family friend was in tears when he laid a floral tribute at the scene yesterday.
He told The Sun Online: “I know the family and all I can say is they are numb with grief.
‘UNIMAGINABLE HORROR’
“It was maybe the first time they had taken the baby out together and this happens.
“It’s an unimaginable horror they are going through. One second and the most precious thing in their lives is gone.”
Sergeant Mark Crozier, from our serious collision investigation unit, said: “We’ve all been left numb by the sad death of Ciaran.
“He was just two-weeks-old and his life has been tragically taken away.
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“To see the loss of someone so young is difficult for us as officers, but we know the pain is even greater for Ciaran’s family.
“We’ll be doing all we can to support them while also trying to establish what happened leading to the collision.
“I would ask people to please respect the family at this sad time and allow them the privacy to grieve.”