THIS is the first picture of a dad arrested for allegedly throwing his baby son to his death from a bridge after taking the tot to “buy milk”.
The 22-year-old, named locally as Zak Eko Bennett, was arrested inside the Lock Keeper pub in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, at around 4.30pm yesterday.
He had wandered in and asked for a drink just minutes after hurling 11-month-old Zakari to his death, reports claim.
The tragic baby’s mum, Emma Blood, posted on Facebook this morning to reveal Bennett had taken his son “to the shop for milk” when the horror unfolded.
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She added: “I didn’t know my child was dead until I got to A & E. We sat with him for hours, we held him, we kissed him and then I left.
“I am alive, although I wish I was dead instead.
“Let me grieve for my child, my whole world and so much more.”
‘DEVASTATING’ DEATH
Horrified eyewitnesses told how the baby was thrown in a Moses basket off the bridge to his death.
Bennett then strolled into the local pub and sat down minutes before cops rushed in and arrested him on suspicion of murder.
Paramedics battled to save the little boy after firefighters pulled him from the water around 100 yards from the bridge.
The tot was rushed to hospital but was sadly pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Local residents expressed their horror and said onlookers were left in tears.
The daughter of a barmaid at the Lock Keeper said the suspect “came in and asked for a drink but said he had no money.”
She added: “Then loads of people came in screaming that there’s a baby in the river.
“He sat there and stared, he didn’t move so the police were phoned and he just told a customer that he’d thrown his baby in the river.”
BABY BRIDGE HORROR
Two fire engines, ambulances, police cars and a police helicopter were scrambled to the scene as a huge emergency response was launched near the town centre.
Teddy Barrow said on Facebook: “It was a very small child in the river i thought it was a doll when I seen it.”
Another resident posted: “I was there 30 mins ago and everybody there was crying and saying a man has thrown his newborn in. He has been arrested.”
A police cordon remains in place and cops are appealing for information.
Detective Superintendent Jamie Daniels said: “This is an incredibly tragic incident that has led to an innocent baby boy losing his life and we are doing everything we can to support his family at this unimaginably devastating time.
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“I know his loss will be felt by the entire community and our thoughts are very much with his loved ones this evening.
“A murder investigation is underway and we are working hard to piece together the circumstances that led to the baby boy ending up in the water.
“Whilst we have a man in custody, our investigation is ongoing and I’d urge any witnesses or anyone with any information to get in touch as soon as possible so that we can find out what happened to him.”
Detectives arrested the man in a local pub, eyewitnesses said[/caption]
