A man addicted to cannabis was imprisoned for life after he was found responsible for the death of his seven-month-old son. He would have violent outbursts after consuming cannabis daily and inflict “obscene” injuries on his son. Kennedy smothered him to death. Other non-accidental injuries were also spotted on the infant’s body, including injuries on his genitals and marks inside his mouth consistent with fingers being pushed forcibly inside. He was sentenced to a minimum term of 18 years while the baby’s mother was sentenced to 30 months.

The family hailed from Lancashire, England. Kennedy is believed to have pushed his fingers into Oskar’s mouth and put his hand over his mouth, in an attempt to silence him. In the process, he deliberately smothered the child.

When the paramedics arrived at the house, the baby was found unresponsive. He was taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary soon after, where he was pronounced dead. A post mortem examination confirmed that the baby had died from smothering. Kennedy’s partner, Tia Jobey, had expressed concern about his violent behavior towards their child during the trial at Preston Crown Court.

“The level of injuries inflicted on this defenseless child by Kennedy is frankly obscene,” Detective Chief Inspector Jon Holmes, of Lancashire Constabulary said. “It is almost impossible to understand the mindset of someone who could do this to any child, let alone their own son.

My thoughts remain with the wider family of baby Oskar who have been through so much over the last year.” Kennedy said in court that he was jealous of his girlfriend’s affection for their son and started lashing out violently. He even tried to blame Tobey for being responsible for Oskar’s death during the trial. Tobey later admitted to causing or allowing the baby’s death and was sentenced to jail as well.

Kennedy had earlier claimed that he had accidentally fallen asleep on the sofa with Oskar and had woken to find him unresponsive. But later on, he changed his story and said that he was asleep in another room. Home Office pathologist Alison Armour concluded that his son’s injuries “negated the possibility” that his death was caused by an adult laying on top of him. “Kane Kennedy has repeatedly changed his account of what happened on that fateful night and has tried to blame other family members to try to save himself,” Holmes stated. “The person who should never be forgotten in this is baby Oskar. He should have been able to look to Kane Kennedy for the protection and love of a parent. Instead, this defenseless child found himself subjected to horrendous abuse and the injuries which sadly caused his death.”

The judge, Justice William Davies said while passing the sentence, “Oskar was a tiny baby who relied upon those in charge of his care to protect him. In his case, both of those in the relationship failed him. His mother knew that he was at serious risk and did not take adequate steps to protect him and you were the one that killed that tiny baby,” he said referring to Kennedy.

Davies continued, “It was a dreadful thing to do to that seven-month-old tiny baby who was in the care of you. Your family life was well supported both by your grandmother and Tia’s mother and this is not a case where you were at your wit’s end.”