Daniel John Ridgers to be sentenced in the Supreme Court on February 14 for death of Khaylan Shayne Butler

A man who shook a baby to death in what the Crown described as ‘a gravely inappropriate and overwhelmingly disproportionate response to the situation’ will soon learn his fate.

Daniel John Ridgers, 25. Picture: Facebook

It will be at least another week before a man responsible for the manslaughter death of a baby will find out his punishment.

Daniel John Ridgers pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the death of 10-month-old Khaylan Shayne Butler.

Ridgers had previously been charged with murder, but it was downgraded.

Khaylan was killed after being shaken and dropped in his cot by Ridgers in November 2023.

At the time of his death, Ridgers had been dating Khaylan’s mother, Maddison Butler.

A report by forensic psychologist Jennifer Wright said that Ridgers had ADHD, which manifested in symptoms such as elevated stress levels, noise sensitivity, and a tendency to suppress and avoid negative emotions.

Dr Wright asserted that his ADHD was a factor leading to the actions that resulted in Khaylan’s death.

Baby Khaylan Shayne Butler. Picture: Facebook.

However, during sentencing submissions in the Supreme Court in Hobart on Friday, Crown Prosecutor Jody Dennison said the moral culpability of Ridgers was high.

“This offending was a gravely inappropriate and overwhelmingly disproportionate response to the situation,” Ms Dennison said.

“It’s a serious case of manslaughter.”

Ms Dennison said she also doubted how much of a role ADHD could have had in Ridgers’ offending.

“He could have just snapped, and it’s nothing to do with his ADHD.”

In her sentencing submissions, Defence Lawyer Pip Monk said she was unaware of Ridgers’ ADHD until Dr Wright did her psychiatric report.

“He did not tell me that he had ADHD. He didn’t know why he did what he did.”

Ms Monk did acknowledge Ridgers had committed a serious crime.

“However, for Ridgers – who has no criminal history and who remains extremely remorseful for his actions on this night – the sentence that he is going to receive in and of itself will act as a significant personal deterrent.”

Ridgers is set to be sentenced on February 14 at 2.15pm.

Originally published as Daniel John Ridgers to be sentenced in the Supreme Court on February 14 for death of Khaylan Shayne Butler