Parents feared lock-up
Mum tells of drug use with accused baby killer
PARENTS of a Colac baby who died from injuries consistent with “unmistakeable violence” were concerned they “would be locked up” after he was taken to hospital, a court has heard.
A committal hearing for 27year-old accused baby murderer Scott Hammond entered its second day at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday with the court hearing from Department of Health employees and police.
Mr Hammond is charged with the alleged murder and child homicide of his threemonth-old son, Braxton.
The boy died nine days after being brought to hospital in 2011.
Detective Senior Constable Kathy Bell from the Victoria Police Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team told the court she had worked on the case for three days.
It was heard she attended Colac Hospital after Braxton was brought in on the night of October 15, 2011 and concerns were raised by staff that his injuries were not accidental.
Under cross examination, Sen-Constable Bell said Mr Hammond had spoken to her raising “concerns he had about he and Nakita being locked up”.
She said the couple initially declined to give statements over the incident.
A search warrant had been issued, but the warrant was never executed.
DHS team leader Catherine Porter said she was aware both parents were under investigation over the incident and believed Braxton’s mother, Nakita Cook, was also aware of that.
Ms Porter said Ms Cook hadn’t used drugs since “way before she was pregnant” and that she didn’t know if “Scott Hammond used drugs as she went to bed early” and “she never saw him using drugs”.
Under cross examination yesterday, Ms Cook said she had used speed “maybe once or twice” with Mr Hammond in between the boy’s birth and his death.
It is alleged Mr Hammond fatally injured the infant — whose injuries included fractured ribs and femur, bruising, a twisted leg and brain trauma — by shaking him.
The hearing today. continues