Joshua Millinson murder: Baby killer Daniel Sanzone jailed for at least 15 years

Daniel Sanzone vigorously shook tiny Joshua Millinson, causing him 'catastrophic' brain injuries, at his Wolverhampton home.

He also assaulted his baby on two previous occasions and caused him six leg and six rib fractures.

Today a judge said the fatal shake was "violent and unrestrained" and imposed a lifetime jail term with a minimum of 15 years - a sentence described as too short by Joshua's mother Zoe Howell.

Speaking outside court Ms Howell, who was cleared of any wrongdoing in relation to her son's death, said: "It is not long enough. I know I got the justice my son deserved but it is not long enough.

"People have slated me for something I didn't do. I wouldn't do something like that. My son was my whole world."

Judge Robert Jay QC said Sanzone had shown no evidence of remorse and told the 23-year-old to reflect on his "cowardness and moral viciousness."

"I cannot conclude you acted as a result of stress of frustration," the judge said.

"You have given untruthful accounts to doctors and police. You have not admitted any responsibility for the death of your son and I have seen no evidence of remorse.

"Your former partner had to take one year of additional pain facing charges of cruelty and causing or allowing a death.

"You should reflect on your cowardness and moral viciousness.

"There is evidence you had a difficult childhood and that you had been abandoned by your family.

"As a result of that or perhaps in any event you are immature emotionally and treat all relationships as a means of getting love and attention rather than giving any out.

"When Joshua was born you were unable to accept Zoe's wish to focus on him rather than exclusively on you."

Defenceless Joshua was just 13 days old when he was taken to hospital from his home in Whitburn Close, Wolverhampton, on October 24 last year.

The trial of his two parents, which ended on Wednesday, heard Zoe Howell, 19, had been in the kitchen and heard a loud bang come from the living room.

Sanzone initially told her it had been a TV remote hitting the floor – and would tell police in interview it was the sound of the sofa hitting the wall as he sat back.

But it is believed the sound could have been Joshua being thrown down onto the sofa by Sanzone.

Joshua was taken to New Cross Hospital before being transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

There it was decided his brain injury was so severe that it could not be survived and that life support should be withdrawn.

But Howell would not give her consent and hospital bosses had to seek a High Court ruling which was obtained on November 20.

Joshua died the following day.

On Wednesday a jury unanimously convicted Sanzone of murder and cruelty to a child.

Howell had denied causing or allowing the death of her only child and was cleared of any wrongdoing.

An NSPCC spokesman welcomed Sanzone's life sentence, saying: '"A newborn baby needs round-the-clock love, care and attention, so it is hard to comprehend the abuse that little Joshua endured during his short life.

"Disturbingly, police have suggested that Sanzone may have been jealous of the attention his baby son was getting.

"But there is no excuse for the sickening violence that Joshua was subjected to.

"It is right that Sanzone has faced the full force of the law and we hope this tragic case sends out a clear message that abuse and cruelty will not be tolerated."