A father who battered his five-week-old son to death in the family flat has been convicted of murder and will serve a mandatory life sentence.

After a seven-day trial at Exeter Crown Court, 31-year-old Brian Saunders was yesterday found guilty of murdering tiny Rilee in Torpoint.

During the trial, the jury heard that Saunders had a previous conviction for child cruelty where the victim sustained a fracture skull.

On this occasion, he lost his temper with the five-week-old boy and injured him with such force that his skull was fractured, there was brain damage and a broken leg. By the time paramedics arrived at the flat in Quarry House, the boy 'looked dead'. He later died in hospital.

Saunders had denied murdering Rilee in March of last year.