Tre James Rudolph sentenced to jail over manslaughter of three-month-old Jasmine Wilkes

A man who shook a three-month-old baby in ‘frustration’ before he wrapped her up, put her in a bouncer and left her to die has been sentenced. Read what happened in court.

Three-month-old Jasmine Elizabeth Wilkes died at a Hamilton South unit in August, 2020. Tre James Rudolph who was looking after the child was jailed for manslaughter. Supplied.

A distraught father has told a court in a tearful letter that his world was “shattered” when he got the harrowing phone call his little baby girl was dead.

“I feel angry. There was an overwhelming sense of love when she was born. I desperately miss her happy little laugh and her babbling. I will always love my baby girl.” the statement read.

“Beautiful, happy and bubbly” little three-month-old Jasmine Elizabeth Wilkes was the apple of her parents eye, but on one horrific morning her short life was tragically taken away.

A court heard Tre James Rudolph - the boyfriend of the child’s aunt - violently shook baby Jasmine in a “burst of anger” when he was looking after the child at a Hamilton South unit on the morning of August 4, 2020.

Tre James Rudolph jailed for manslaughter of baby Jasmine Wilkes. Supplied

Three-month-old Jasmine Elizabeth Wilkes died at a Hamilton South unit in August, 2020. Tre James Rudolph who was looking after the child was jailed for manslaughter. Supplied.

He shook the child “out of frustration” before wrapping her up, putting her in a bouncer and leaving her to die of her injuries.

The court heard Rudolph was sleep deprived and had been using ice and smoking cannabis the night before, and was “stressing out”.

“I shook her a little bit. I gave her a cuddle and put her down in the bouncer. I thought she was sleeping,” the court heard Rudolph told a psychologist.

The court heard the baby’s mother, Tiarnie Wilkes-Patridge, arrived home around 9am that morning after she had called earlier and Rudolph told her “everything was fine” and that the child was asleep.

It was after 10am the child’s aunt checked in on Jasmine where she discovered Jasmine was cold to touch and wasn’t breathing.

Baby Jasmine died in August 2020 from being shaken a court heard. Supplied.

When paramedics arrived the court heard the child was “limp and cold”, before being taken to the John Hunter Hospital where she died just before midday.

It was found the child’s death was caused from neck and head injuries and she was likely alive for about 30 minutes after the “act of vigorous shaking”, which could’ve lasted up to 10 seconds.

Rudolph was arrested four months later and charged with murdering the child and also faced a charge of sexual assault of a child under 10.

He was set to head to trial, but the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) dropped the charges, after he pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter in the alternate.

Tre James Rudolph has been sentenced to eight years jail for manslaughter of a baby. Supplied.

A bear for baby Jasmine who was shaken to death in August 2020. Tre James Rudolph was jailed for her manslaughter. Supplied

In Newcastle Supreme Court on Friday, Jasmine’s distraught mother - surrounded by family and friends - faced her baby’s killer as he sat stoically in the dock.

Judge Robert Allan Hulme sentenced Rudolph to eight years in jail, with a non-parole period of six years.

“(She) Was vulnerable thirteen week old baby. No evidence of premeditation, but it does not mitigate the seriousness of the crime,” Judge Hulme said.

“The pain and grief they have experienced is extreme.”

Grandmother Jayne Svetanoski sobbed following the sentence and said it justice wasn’t served.

“No justice for that baby taken away. It’s just wrong,” she said.

“Current laws protect criminals not victims. She was an innocent baby.”

With time served, Rudolph will be eligible for release in December 2026.