Heartbroken mum speaks out after baby-killer dad addicted to video games jailed for nine years

A heartbroken Victorian mother says she feels “utterly betrayed” after her baby son’s killer dad was sentenced to just nine years prison for the violent death.

Joseph McDonald leaves the Supreme Court. Picture: Ian Currie

A heartbroken mother says she feels “utterly betrayed” after Joseph McDonald was sentenced to nine years’ prison for killing their seven-week-old son before returning to his PlayStation.

McDonald, a frustrated dad who killed baby Lucas McDonald because he “wouldn’t stop crying” will spend at least six years in jail.

McDonald was sentenced in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Tuesday to nine years’ prison, with a non-­parole period of six years and eight months.

Baby Lucas’s mother, Samantha Duckmanton said she was devastated to know McDonald would be eligible for parole in 5 1/2 years time because of time already served.

“It’s just not enough. It’s ridiculous. He’s going to be outside for most of the rest of his life, he’s going to have an extended life, Lucas’s life is over,” Ms Duckmanton told the Herald Sun.

Baby Lucas was killed by his father Joseph McDonald at only seven weeks old.

“Lucas deserves so much more. It’s like a punch to the heart is the best way I can describe it, it’s brutal.”

“He’s completely destroyed my life and he gets to go and make a new one. It’s just not fair.”

McDonald pleaded guilty to child homicide, after causing baby Lucas McDonald’s death on October 24, 2019, in Benalla.

Judge Stephen Kaye said the 23-year-old was addicted to cannabis and video games, playing them for between six and 10 hours per day.

He said McDonald became “irate” when he lost a game or was interrupted by tasks such as “family responsibilities”.

McDonald’s anger management issues were “exacerbated” by his twin addictions, Justice Kaye said.

Joseph McDonald's actions caused the death of his baby after he became frustrated at his son Lucas’s crying.

On the day of the killing, the family had gone to the doctor for routine vaccinations where Lucas was found to be in good health except for a runny nose. When they got home, Ms Duckmanton, put on the TV for elder child Oliver and then went into the kitchen alone.

She then heard her baby cry out. “It was unlike any noise she had previously heard Lucas make,” Justice Kaye said.

After hearing the strange cry, Ms Duckmanton went into the lounge room to see McDonald rocking the baby while simultaneously playing PlayStation.

McDonald told the mother: “I’m just swaddling him.”

But prosecutors said what really happened was ­McDon­ald violently shook the baby and inflicted catastrophic injuries to his brain, either by hitting him or hitting his head against a hard object. He died in hospital five days later at 53 days old. After Lucas’ death, staff at the Monash Children’s Hospital informed the parents they believed the death was “non-accidental”.

It was then McDonald made a confession to Ms Duckmanton, Judge Kaye said.

He told her he “became frustrated” when Lucas “wouldn’t stop crying” and he “pushed on his brain stem”.

Joseph McDonald left the Supreme Court of Victoria in a prison van on Tuesday. Picture: Ian Currie

After the admission, McDonald ran from the hospital but he turned himself into police later that week.

Hospital examinations and an autopsy uncovered multiple haemorrhages to the baby’s brain, and a 4cm by 1.8cm bruise on his skull.

“I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that you ­either struck his head or you caused Lucas’s head to forcefully strike a hard object,” Justice Kaye said.

He said McDonald was “challenged” by the birth of the family’s second son, and his anger management had deteriorated after Lucas was born.

“He deserved to be treated with tenderness, love and care. Instead, by your actions, you took his life from him.”

Originally published as Heartbroken mum speaks out after baby-killer dad addicted to video games jailed for nine years