Man charged with murdering his three-month-old baby son appears in court

The boy died in hospital in March last year but a court order had prevented details of the case from being reported sooner

Police outside Bristol Crown Court (PA Archive/PA Images)

A father has appeared in court accused of murdering his baby son, it can be reported for the first time.

Paul Rich, 52, was charged with the murder of three-month-old Patrick Bradley who died in hospital in March last year.

A court order had prevented details of the case being reported but that was lifted following representations by the Press Association, and the Swindon Advertiser and the Guardian newspapers.

Rich, of Shrivenham, Swindon faced magistrates in the town on 5 December, when the case was sent to Bristol Crown Court for trial.

It was listed before a judge for the first time last Friday, and a plea and case-management hearing was fixed for 25 January.

The defendant did not attend that hearing.

Rich was remanded into custody.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “Paul Rich appeared via video link at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on 5 December, charged with the murder of a three-month-old baby in Swindon.

“It relates to the death of three-month-old Patrick Bradley, who died in hospital in March 2017.

“There was a short administrative hearing at Bristol Crown Court on 7 December.

“Rich did not appear at this hearing.

“A plea and trial preparation hearing has been listed for 25 January.”

Press Association