Man convicted of murdering three-month-old Hunter Hodges in Ramsgate

Tyla Wharmby, 24, was found guilty of murdering infant Hunter Hodges after police exposed his lies. He was convicted on both murder and GBH charges at Canterbury Crown Court.

Canterbury Crown Court convicts Ramsgate man of baby's murder

Tyla Wharmby, 24, formerly of Prestedge Avenue in Ramsgate, has been found guilty of murdering three-month-old Hunter Hodges, the Daily Express reports. A jury at Canterbury Crown Court returned a majority verdict on Thursday, 29 October 2026, convicting Wharmby of both murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Emergency services were called shortly after 5.30am on 15 July 2022 to an address in Queen Street, Ramsgate, where 12-week-old Hunter was found pale and unresponsive, with a visibly swollen head. The infant was taken to a local hospital, where medics alerted Kent Police. Due to the severity of his injuries, Hunter was subsequently transferred to a facility in London. He died in hospital that afternoon.

Doctors confirmed that Hunter had suffered a fractured skull causing substantial swelling to the brain.

Wharmby had been responsible for feeding the child overnight. He initially told police he had woken to find Hunter unwell and had informed the baby's mother, who then called 999. Specialist detectives, examining complex medical and digital forensic evidence, established that this account was false.

Investigators determined that Wharmby had intentionally caused a fatal injury to the child moments before placing the emergency call. The probe also uncovered evidence that he had previously injured Hunter, with signs consistent with violent shaking.

Wharmby was arrested on the same day emergency services attended the scene. He was formally charged with murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent on 22 February 2026, and denied both counts.

Detective Inspector Adam Marshall, the Senior Investigating Officer, said the team had worked "meticulously to scrutinise the evidence and build a case which ultimately exposed the truth behind Wharmby's lies."

"This was a deeply distressing case involving the death of a very young baby, and our determination to establish what had happened to Hunter, and secure justice on his behalf, was unwavering," Marshall said.

He added that no verdict could undo the loss suffered by Hunter's family, but expressed hope the conviction offered "some measure of accountability." Marshall noted that Hunter's relatives had provided vital evidence throughout the investigation and praised their "remarkable courage and strength."

Wharmby is due to be sentenced at a later date.

Source: Daily Express