Full Breakdown
Tyla Wharmby Convicted of Murdering 3-Month-Old Hunter Hodges
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Conviction and Court Findings
On July 15, 2022, Tyla Wharmby, 24, was found guilty at Canterbury Crown Court of murdering his girlfriend’s son, Hunter Hodges. Medical experts testified that the injuries resembled those seen in high-speed motor-vehicle collisions and caused immediate, profound damage to deep brain nerve fibres. Wharmby denied both murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but the verdict was delivered after 15 hours 19 minutes of deliberation. He will be sentenced at a later date by Mrs Justice Foster.
02
Background and Context
Hunter Hodges was born prematurely at 32 weeks’ gestation on April 16, 2022 and weighed just over 10 lb. After a brief hospital stay, he was discharged to the care of his mother, Shannon Hodges, and her partner, Seamus Tuckell, a hospital porter. Concerns raised by Tuckell led to social-services involvement on May 20, though the infant was not placed under a formal child-in-need plan. Wharmby had been in a relationship with Shannon for about two months and was entrusted with overnight bottle-feeding duties while she slept.
Visual evidence
Images from the story
03
Timeline
- April 16, 2022 – Hunter’s premature birth.
- May 20 – Tuckell contacts social services about concerns for Hunter.
- July 15, 2022 – Wharmby allegedly throws or shakes Hunter, causing catastrophic head injury; emergency services called shortly after 5:30 a.m.
- July 15, 2022 – Hunter is airlifted to King’s College Hospital in London and dies that afternoon after multiple cardiac arrests.
- February 22, 2026 – Wharmby is charged with murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
- October 29, 2026 – Wharmby is convicted on the charges.
04
Data & Statistics
- Age at death: 12 weeks (approximately three months).
- Weight at time of injury: a little over 10 lb.
- Injuries: fractured skull, extensive brain swelling, older brain bleed identified up to five weeks before death.
- Jury verdicts: majority decisions of 11-to-1 and 10-to-2 after 15 hours 19 minutes of deliberation.
05
Verbatim Quotes
- “When Hunter was finally well enough to come home, I truly believed the difficult days were behind us and we could begin life as the little family I had dreamed of.” — Mr Tuckell
- “I woke to multiple calls and messages from Shannon.” — Margate's QEQM
- “Although Hunter's life was tragically short, his impact on me and my family is immeasurable.” — Mr Tuckell
06
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Post-mortem examinations revealed an older brain bleed that occurred up to five weeks before Hunter’s death. Earlier medical assessments had attributed his symptoms—vomiting, breathing difficulty, mottling, and sleepiness—to reflux, bronchiolitis, or infection, indicating a gap between clinical diagnosis and the underlying trauma identified later. No source provided a definitive explanation for why the earlier bleed was not detected at the time of those admissions.
07
What’s Next
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled by the trial judge. The court has not yet announced the length or nature of the penalty.