Sheffield Crown Court heard on February 2 how Leon Mathias, aged 34, of Stonebridge Lane, in Great Houghton, Barnsley, who was found guilty of murdering his nine-week-old baby son Hunter, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years before he can be considered for release.
After the judge – Mrs Justice Christina Lambert – said Hunter’s fatal head injury had been caused by shaking and she described Mathias’ behaviour as ‘truly horrifying’ and ‘grotesque’, The Star has been reflecting on the region’s most notorious child-killers who have been brought to justice.
Shocking cases include: a hammer-wielding killer who murdered his partner, her two children and one of their young friends; a man who murdered his partner’s toddler; and a killer couple who murdered two of their children in Sheffield.
Shocking cases include: a hammer-wielding killer who murdered his partner, her two children and one of their young friends; a man who murdered his partner’s toddler; and a killer couple who murdered two of their children in Sheffield.
![Pictured is Savannah Brockhill who was found guilty of murdering the 16-month-old daughter of her partner in a campaign of abuse. Brockhill, who used to work as a security guard at a recycling plant in Doncaster, was said to have inflicted ‘catastrophic’ injuries on toddler Star. The child's mother Frankie Smith was convicted of causing or allowing her death but she was cleared of murder following a trial at Bradford Crown Court. Star died in hospital in West Yorkshire in September, 2020, after suffering a cardiac arrest following months of abuse. West Yorkshire Police said a post mortem examination revealed Star had suffered significant damage to her internal organs and had a fractured skull. Brockhill was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years for the murder of Star at the couple's flat in Wesley Place, Keighley.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjZmY2QzMTI1LTQzMzEtNDE5ZS1iOTA1LThjZTJhMDQ0NTNmMjphOTMyZmQ0NC0xMTg3LTRmOWMtODc0MC01ZDBhNjJjYmFkMGM=.png?crop=3:2&width=640)
9. Savannah Brockhill
Pictured is Savannah Brockhill who was found guilty of murdering the 16-month-old daughter of her partner in a campaign of abuse. Brockhill, who used to work as a security guard at a recycling plant in Doncaster, was said to have inflicted ‘catastrophic’ injuries on toddler Star. The child's mother Frankie Smith was convicted of causing or allowing her death but she was cleared of murder following a trial at Bradford Crown Court. Star died in hospital in West Yorkshire in September, 2020, after suffering a cardiac arrest following months of abuse. West Yorkshire Police said a post mortem examination revealed Star had suffered significant damage to her internal organs and had a fractured skull. Brockhill was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years for the murder of Star at the couple's flat in Wesley Place, Keighley. Photo: WYP
![Delroy Catwell was found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court in November, 2013, of murdering his girlfriend's young daughter. Catwell, aged 31 at the time of sentencing, of Beck Road, Shiregreen, Sheffield, was given a life sentence and was ordered to serve at least 20 years in jail. The court heard Catwell subjected three-year-old Lylah Aaron to a sustained and brutal attack which left her with bruises, broken ribs and fatal brain damage.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmY3ODhhZWYxLWViMTktNGU1Yi04ODNhLTdlMDU4NDc2ZmUwYTozODU1ZWNhMi1lYjA1LTQyZDEtYTI2Ni0yZDQ1ZDU1MDQwNDA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
10. Delroy Catwell
Delroy Catwell was found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court in November, 2013, of murdering his girlfriend's young daughter. Catwell, aged 31 at the time of sentencing, of Beck Road, Shiregreen, Sheffield, was given a life sentence and was ordered to serve at least 20 years in jail. The court heard Catwell subjected three-year-old Lylah Aaron to a sustained and brutal attack which left her with bruises, broken ribs and fatal brain damage. Photo: Jon Cooper