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A father who violently shook his six-month-old son and caused him catastrophic head injuries has been found guilty of his murder. 

Mihai-Catalin Gulie, 28, was arrested by police after he attacked his son Robert Ion in a fit of rage at his home in Widnes, Cheshire, on February 21 this year.

The sixth-month-old, who was diagnosed with Down's Syndrome at birth and suffered from a range of medical complications, was rushed to hospital but was tragically pronounced dead just three days later. 

The baby's mother Gabriela Ion, 35, had previously tried to cover up the baby's bruises - and injuries including broken ribs - with toothpaste, a court heard.

She admitted doing so, but said she did not foresee the fatal attack and blamed her husband for the killing. 

Today Gulie was convicted of the murder of his child after a three-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

Robert's mother Gabriela Ion was found guilty of causing or allowing his death. 

Mihai-Catalin Gulie (left), 28, was convicted of the murder of his six-month-old child and his wife Gabriela Ion (right), 35, was found guilty of causing or allowing the baby's death

Sixth-month-old Robert Ion, who was diagnosed with Down's Syndrome at birth and suffered from a range of medical complications, was rushed to hospital but was tragically pronounced dead just three days later

Nicholas Johnson QC, for the prosecution, told the jury that three days before Robert's death, he had suffered catastrophic injuries at the hands of Gulie, who was alone in the house while Ion and their two-year-old daughter had gone to a nearby corner shop. 

The jury was told that on the day of the fatal assault, Robert's dad fell into a rage and forcefully shook his son, probably impacting his head too.

The force used was enough to cause extensive internal bleeding and over-stretching of vulnerable structures inside Robert's brain and spinal cord, quickly leading a heart attack, from which he never recovered. 

Mr Johnson said: 'It is not entirely clear why Robert's father did it but it wasn't the first time he had been violent to his son.

'Robert was born with Down's Syndrome and had other medical requirements such as feeding him through a tube into his stomach. His need for medical treatment in hospital had caused significant disruption and debt.

'Whatever the cause, subsequent investigations showed that, about 10 days before he was fatally attacked, Robert had suffered two fractured ribs and a bleed on the brain, which are classic signs of a previous forceful shaking.

'And this was a previous assault which Robert's mother was not only aware of but, rather than telling family and friends who lived close by or doctors or the police about the obvious risk of serious injury to him, covered up Robert's bruising with toothpaste and kept secret what was going on, until it was too late.

'As a result of the later, fatal attack on February 18, Robert suffered a classic 'triad' of injuries associated with non-accidental head injury - what used to be called shaken baby syndrome.' 

The court heard how Robert had spent the first few months of his life in hospital and had only returned home to live with his parents and his two-year-old sister just before Christmas last year. 

On February 18, 2021, Ion had left the family home at 11.25am to go to the shop before returning a few minutes later. 

Gulie was convicted of the murder after a three-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court

When she returned to the house, she saw Gulie with the baby and he said that Robert appeared unwell.

They put water on his face in an attempt to revive him and tapped his back.

Gulie, a Romanian national, called a family friend to ring an ambulance as he does not speak English.

However when paramedics arrived, they found Robert on the sofa with no signs of life.

After six minutes of CPR medics were able to move Robert to the ambulance before taking him to hospital where he was placed into an induced coma in order to stabilise him.

On assessment, it was revealed that Robert was in a critical condition and had sustained a skull fracture and an irreversible non-survivable brain injury.

Further tests found Robert had also sustained additional injuries including fractured ribs and a brain injury, which are believed to date back to around February 7.

Despite the efforts of medical staff, Robert passed away three days later on February 21, sparking a murder probe. 

In an interview with police, Gulie stated that he loved Robert and would never hurt him.

He also denied causing any injury to Robert and claimed that he handled him as a 'jewel'.

He told officers how he had spent £4,000 in taxi fares going to and from hospitals in the first few months of his life.

But police examination of Ion's phone found how she had been searching how to remove bruises. 

Detective Inspector Nigel Parr, who was in charge of the investigation, said: 'This has been an extremely difficult and emotional case for all involved.

'Robert's death was horrific. He had already fought for the first few months of his life with various health issues only to suffer further and have his life cruelly taken away from him by the people who should have cared for him the most.

'What Gulie and Ion did is unimaginable and they are now facing the consequences of their actions behind bars.

'I hope that that the verdict reached today will in some way help Robert's wider family to find some form of closure after an incredibly difficult experience.'

Following the verdict, Robert's wider family said in a statement: 'The last few months have been incredibly difficult losing Robert so suddenly without knowing the reasons why.

'We are all very shocked and we still haven't recovered from this shock yet especially now we have found out what Robert went through.

'Robert was a beautiful, happy, content baby who was cruelly taken away from us in the place where he should have been protected and safe.

'We are a close family and whilst it will take some time to process what has happened, we take comfort from the support we have had from the local community and the police since Robert's death.

'From the bottom of our hearts we hope that Robert can now finally rest in peace'

Gulie and Ion are due to be sentenced at the same court on November 26.