A RELATIVE of James Tuffs today spoke of his shock at his manslaughter conviction and said his family is considering an appeal.Simon Greene, the brother-in-law of the 21-year-old, said he would be making a complaint about the investigation carried out into the death of Byron O'Leary.

A RELATIVE of James Tuffs today spoke of his shock at his manslaughter conviction and said his family is considering an appeal.

Simon Greene, the brother-in-law of the 21-year-old, said he would be making a complaint about the investigation carried out into the death of Byron O'Leary.

He said: "I'm writing to the Home Office to Home Secretary to ask for a full investigation to be carried out.

"I'm also getting in touch with the Independent Police Complaints Commission to make my views known.

"I will be speaking to my legal advisors to find out whether an appeal can be made."

Mr Greene said the family had been stunned by the verdict.

"It was the last thing I expected," he said.

"If I thought he was guilty I wouldn't have stood by him. We all thought he was innocent which is why we stood by him 100 per cent.

"He was a fantastic father. For someone bringing up three children he did a great job."

Tuffs is today facing the prospect of a substantial jail term after being found guilty of killing his four-month-old son Byron on January 21 last year.

A jury of eight men and four women took less than two hours to convict Tuffs, who wept as the verdict was read out.

But he was cleared of cruelty towards Byron's brother Tyrese, who was found to have suffered multiple fractures.

Members of his family and Zoe O'Leary, the boys' mother, clashed outside the court after Miss O'Leary was heard to say "justice" towards Tuffs friends and family.

Tuffs was released on conditional bail but warned him a prison sentence was "almost inevitable".

Following the case, Michael Crimp, prosecutor, said: "While such cases obviously have a severe impact on the family it is hoped that, with this verdict, all parties will feel more able to move on with their lives."