By . Emma Glanfield . Ross Conlin, 29, was handed a life sentence at Winchester Crown Court for murder . A father who killed his four-month-old daughter by ‘vigorously shaking’ her after smoking cannabis and losing his temper has been jailed for a minimum of 17 years. Ross Conlin, 29, shook baby Kiera so violently ‘in anger’ while left alone with her that she had a heart attack and stopped breathing. Examinations revealed the youngster also suffered three skull fractures, rib fractures and bleeding to the brain in the lead up to her death in Farnborough, Hampshire, on May 6 last year. Today, wearing a Marvel comic t-shirt and jeans, Conlin closed his eyes and put his head in his hands as he was imprisoned for life at Winchester Crown Court. Earlier a jury of nine men and three women convicted the debt collector of murder and three counts of causing grievous bodily harm. He was handed a life sentence by the judge and told he will serve a minimum of 17-and-a-half years in prison before being led away by two security guards. His partner, and Kiera’s mother, Kelly-Marie Rayner, 26, was earlier acquitted in court of a charge of causing or allowing the death of a child. Nigel Lickley QC, prosecuting, told the jury how the defendants were staying with Rayner’s parents during the weekend of Kiera’s death. Conlin had been left in charge of Kiera, while Rayner went to have her nails painted, when the injuries were suffered at some point after 10am that day. Mr Lickley said: ‘Kiera was shaken violently, she may also have suffered further head impact. ‘Her injuries were so severe, having become unconscious and stopped breathing - she was in her father’s hands at the time - she suffered a heart attack. ‘She never recovered and was allowed to die the following day, the doctors unable to save her. ‘She hadn’t suffered those injuries as a result of choking or vomiting on her bottle as her father said but as a result of violent shaking by the adult holding her, her own father.’ He added that Conlin had inflicted the ‘terrible’ injuries ‘probably in anger’. Conlin shook his four-month-old daughter Kiera (above) so violently while left alone with her that she had a heart attack and stopped breathing. She also suffered skull fractures, rib fractures and bleeding to the brain . Kiera’s mother, Kelly-Marie Rayner, 26, (pictured left outside Winchester Crown Court) was earlier acquitted of a charge of causing or allowing the death of a child. Conlin (right) was told he will serve a minimum of 17 years . Mr Lickley said post mortem examinations showed that Kiera had suffered a rib fracture between four and eight weeks prior to her death with the same rib and another being fractured again about 14 days prior to her death along with three skull fractures. She suffered further rib fractures between three and five days prior to her death and showed signs of previously having suffered bleeding to the eyes. Mr Lickley said that there was ‘’stress and strain’ in the household and Rayner feared that Conlin might leave her. Other causes for the stress were money worries, with Conlin taking out short-term loans to shore up their bank account. Conlin, who worked as a debt collector, had also been experiencing trouble at work and had been facing disciplinary procedures after his performance had ‘dipped’. And his drug use also added to the strain on the household, Mr Lickley said. He added: ‘He is a drug user. He smoked cannabis on May 5, the day before events on May 6 and historically, at least, had taken cocaine.’ On the morning of May 6 2013, Conlin, dialled 999 to report his daughter was not breathing and was ‘limp’. Kiera (above)was taken to Southampton General Hospital on May 6 last year but she was pronounced brain dead and a life support machine was turned off the following day. She was four months old . On arrival, paramedics carried Kiera to a bedroom, placed her on the bed and fought to save her life. Conlin claimed at the time that he had tried to feed Kiera 10 minutes before and said he discovered she was not breathing after going to check on her, the five-week trial heard. Paramedics managed to revive the youngster and took her to Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey but her condition deteriorated and she was later transferred to Southampton General Hospital. However, she was pronounced brain dead and a life support machine keeping her alive was turned off the following day. Had she survived, the extent of her injuries would have also left her blind. Judge Mr Justice Royce said Kiera’s injuries were not caused accidentally as Conlin claimed. He said: ‘This is a sad and tragic case involving the killing of a little girl less than five months old. ‘After a time, she would not bond with you at all and she would start to cry if you even approached her. ‘It is clear to me that you became frustrated, you gripped and squeezed her by the chest so hard that you broke her ribs. ‘You must have known she was in pain as she would have screamed. ‘The skull fractures were caused by her head coming into contact with a hard object and she would have screamed in pain. Kelly Rayner (centre) attended Conlin's trial at Winchester Crown Court with her parents Paul and Dawn . ‘That morning, you caused what were catastrophic injuries which would in a matter of seconds cause her collapse and you knew what you had done. ‘The finger of suspicion also pointed momentarily at Ms Rayner, who was arrested and charged with causing or allowing Kiera’s death. ‘Her victim impact statement outlines the devastating effect that the death of Kiera has had on her and the rest of her family. Following Kiera’s death, her mother Kelly-Marie Rayner and grandfather Paul Rayner released the following poem paying tribute to her. ‘To our darling Kiera, your right to grow has been taken away . ‘You cannot mature, you can no longer play, this so cruelly denied in a barbaric way. ‘Our memories shared with our nation’s heart, may your story grow and help those in part. ‘You leave a mother, and grandparents, your family who loved you dearly, we will all miss you. ‘The police heard your voice, they continued to search, but they knew your killer, like you from the start. ‘Your body helped in a way you did not know, we thank you for that, we love you so. ‘Your dad hurt you, he has no regret, he closed your eyes, he stopped your breath. ‘He has now been judged, he deserves no rights, you are now free from pain, we now say goodnight.’ ‘They would have loved to see that little girl grow up and become closer to them. She was just a vulnerable child.’ Before being sentenced, Conlin told the court he had wanted to be more financially secure before having Kiera, adding: ‘The day Kiera died was the day everything fell apart.’ In mitigation, Elizabeth Marsh told . the court: ‘The fatal injuries were not caused with malice but with . frustration that he wanted to love her more but she wouldn’t let him. ‘It is a tragic case for all concerned - for Kelly, for Kiera’s grandparents and those who knew her.’ Today, bank advisor Ms Rayner wept and embraced her family in the public gallery as the judge handed out the life sentence to Conlin. The jury previously cleared her of causing or allowing the death of a child after it was deemed she could not possibly have known the extent of Kiera’s injuries and took steps to ensure her welfare with several visits to GPs. Following today’s sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Scott Clarke of Hampshire Constabulary, said: ‘The trial into the death of baby Kiera Conlin has been a harrowing and difficult experience for all those involved. ‘We welcome this verdict and hope that Kiera’s extended family have now got answers to at least some of the many questions they had around her untimely death. ‘Kiera’s death was at the hands of a man whom she most relied and depended upon for love and the most basic care. She was abused and horrendously let down by this man - her father. ‘Without the abhorrent behaviour of her father, Kiera would still be alive today. ‘Investigations into this type of case are often extremely complex and difficult for officers, staff and the family of the deceased. ‘I would like thank the entire investigation team and the many medical professionals and specialists for all their hard work and dedication in bringing this case to an appropriate conclusion. ‘I would also like to personally thank Kiera’s extended family for their understanding and patience during what must have been one of the most challenging times of their lives.’
Ross Conlin shook four-month-old Kiera so violently she had a heart attack .
The 29-year-old was found guilty of murder at Winchester Crown Court .
He was sentenced to a minimum of 17-and-a-half years in prison by judge .
His partner and youngster's mother Kelly-Marie Rayner acquitted by jury .
She faced charge of causing or allowing the death of a child but was cleared .
Four-month-old Kiera died in May last year after being left alone with Conlin .
By . Emma Glanfield . Ross Conlin, 29, was handed a life sentence at Winchester Crown Court for murder . A father who killed his four-month-old daughter by ‘vigorously shaking’ her after smoking cannabis and losing his temper has been jailed for a minimum of 17 years. Ross Conlin, 29, shook baby Kiera so violently ‘in anger’ while left alone with her that she had a heart attack and stopped breathing. Examinations revealed the youngster also suffered three skull fractures, rib fractures and bleeding to the brain in the lead up to her death in Farnborough, Hampshire, on May 6 last year. Today, wearing a Marvel comic t-shirt and jeans, Conlin closed his eyes and put his head in his hands as he was imprisoned for life at Winchester Crown Court. Earlier a jury of nine men and three women convicted the debt collector of murder and three counts of causing grievous bodily harm. He was handed a life sentence by the judge and told he will serve a minimum of 17-and-a-half years in prison before being led away by two security guards. His partner, and Kiera’s mother, Kelly-Marie Rayner, 26, was earlier acquitted in court of a charge of causing or allowing the death of a child. Nigel Lickley QC, prosecuting, told the jury how the defendants were staying with Rayner’s parents during the weekend of Kiera’s death. Conlin had been left in charge of Kiera, while Rayner went to have her nails painted, when the injuries were suffered at some point after 10am that day. Mr Lickley said: ‘Kiera was shaken violently, she may also have suffered further head impact. ‘Her injuries were so severe, having become unconscious and stopped breathing - she was in her father’s hands at the time - she suffered a heart attack. ‘She never recovered and was allowed to die the following day, the doctors unable to save her. ‘She hadn’t suffered those injuries as a result of choking or vomiting on her bottle as her father said but as a result of violent shaking by the adult holding her, her own father.’ He added that Conlin had inflicted the ‘terrible’ injuries ‘probably in anger’. Conlin shook his four-month-old daughter Kiera (above) so violently while left alone with her that she had a heart attack and stopped breathing. She also suffered skull fractures, rib fractures and bleeding to the brain . Kiera’s mother, Kelly-Marie Rayner, 26, (pictured left outside Winchester Crown Court) was earlier acquitted of a charge of causing or allowing the death of a child. Conlin (right) was told he will serve a minimum of 17 years . Mr Lickley said post mortem examinations showed that Kiera had suffered a rib fracture between four and eight weeks prior to her death with the same rib and another being fractured again about 14 days prior to her death along with three skull fractures. She suffered further rib fractures between three and five days prior to her death and showed signs of previously having suffered bleeding to the eyes. Mr Lickley said that there was ‘’stress and strain’ in the household and Rayner feared that Conlin might leave her. Other causes for the stress were money worries, with Conlin taking out short-term loans to shore up their bank account. Conlin, who worked as a debt collector, had also been experiencing trouble at work and had been facing disciplinary procedures after his performance had ‘dipped’. And his drug use also added to the strain on the household, Mr Lickley said. He added: ‘He is a drug user. He smoked cannabis on May 5, the day before events on May 6 and historically, at least, had taken cocaine.’ On the morning of May 6 2013, Conlin, dialled 999 to report his daughter was not breathing and was ‘limp’. Kiera (above)was taken to Southampton General Hospital on May 6 last year but she was pronounced brain dead and a life support machine was turned off the following day. She was four months old . On arrival, paramedics carried Kiera to a bedroom, placed her on the bed and fought to save her life. Conlin claimed at the time that he had tried to feed Kiera 10 minutes before and said he discovered she was not breathing after going to check on her, the five-week trial heard. Paramedics managed to revive the youngster and took her to Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey but her condition deteriorated and she was later transferred to Southampton General Hospital. However, she was pronounced brain dead and a life support machine keeping her alive was turned off the following day. Had she survived, the extent of her injuries would have also left her blind. Judge Mr Justice Royce said Kiera’s injuries were not caused accidentally as Conlin claimed. He said: ‘This is a sad and tragic case involving the killing of a little girl less than five months old. ‘After a time, she would not bond with you at all and she would start to cry if you even approached her. ‘It is clear to me that you became frustrated, you gripped and squeezed her by the chest so hard that you broke her ribs. ‘You must have known she was in pain as she would have screamed. ‘The skull fractures were caused by her head coming into contact with a hard object and she would have screamed in pain. Kelly Rayner (centre) attended Conlin's trial at Winchester Crown Court with her parents Paul and Dawn . ‘That morning, you caused what were catastrophic injuries which would in a matter of seconds cause her collapse and you knew what you had done. ‘The finger of suspicion also pointed momentarily at Ms Rayner, who was arrested and charged with causing or allowing Kiera’s death. ‘Her victim impact statement outlines the devastating effect that the death of Kiera has had on her and the rest of her family. Following Kiera’s death, her mother Kelly-Marie Rayner and grandfather Paul Rayner released the following poem paying tribute to her. ‘To our darling Kiera, your right to grow has been taken away . ‘You cannot mature, you can no longer play, this so cruelly denied in a barbaric way. ‘Our memories shared with our nation’s heart, may your story grow and help those in part. ‘You leave a mother, and grandparents, your family who loved you dearly, we will all miss you. ‘The police heard your voice, they continued to search, but they knew your killer, like you from the start. ‘Your body helped in a way you did not know, we thank you for that, we love you so. ‘Your dad hurt you, he has no regret, he closed your eyes, he stopped your breath. ‘He has now been judged, he deserves no rights, you are now free from pain, we now say goodnight.’ ‘They would have loved to see that little girl grow up and become closer to them. She was just a vulnerable child.’ Before being sentenced, Conlin told the court he had wanted to be more financially secure before having Kiera, adding: ‘The day Kiera died was the day everything fell apart.’ In mitigation, Elizabeth Marsh told . the court: ‘The fatal injuries were not caused with malice but with . frustration that he wanted to love her more but she wouldn’t let him. ‘It is a tragic case for all concerned - for Kelly, for Kiera’s grandparents and those who knew her.’ Today, bank advisor Ms Rayner wept and embraced her family in the public gallery as the judge handed out the life sentence to Conlin. The jury previously cleared her of causing or allowing the death of a child after it was deemed she could not possibly have known the extent of Kiera’s injuries and took steps to ensure her welfare with several visits to GPs. Following today’s sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Scott Clarke of Hampshire Constabulary, said: ‘The trial into the death of baby Kiera Conlin has been a harrowing and difficult experience for all those involved. ‘We welcome this verdict and hope that Kiera’s extended family have now got answers to at least some of the many questions they had around her untimely death. ‘Kiera’s death was at the hands of a man whom she most relied and depended upon for love and the most basic care. She was abused and horrendously let down by this man - her father. ‘Without the abhorrent behaviour of her father, Kiera would still be alive today. ‘Investigations into this type of case are often extremely complex and difficult for officers, staff and the family of the deceased. ‘I would like thank the entire investigation team and the many medical professionals and specialists for all their hard work and dedication in bringing this case to an appropriate conclusion. ‘I would also like to personally thank Kiera’s extended family for their understanding and patience during what must have been one of the most challenging times of their lives.’
a life sentence at Winchester Crown Court for will serve a minimum of 17-and-a-half years in guards. His partner, and Kiera’s mother, anger’. Conlin shook his four-month-old daughter Kiera (above) so violently while left alone with her that she had a heart attack and stopped acquitted of a charge of causing or allowing the General Hospital on May 6 last year but she was Kiera’s death, her mother Kelly-Marie Rayner and life sentence to Conlin. The jury previously cleared her of causing or allowing the death of a