Jail for baby’s shaking shocker

AN Atherton father violently assaulted his four-month-old daughter causing catastrophic injuries, then waited days to take her to hospital.

She could have died without medical intervention. Instead, he initially gave her a children’s Panadol.

“It is obvious from medical opinion that this child was shaken violently,” Cairns District Court Judge Brian Harrison said.

Medical reports revealed that shaking alone would not have caused her injuries. Her head had to have been struck many times.

Crown prosecutor Melanie Franklin said the 34-year-old man also tried to blame the child’s two-year-old sibling and his then-girlfriend for the injuries.

Yesterday Judge Harrison jailed the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, for six years. He must serve at least two.

Officer in charge of the case Detective Sergeant Kearin Corcoran said it was one of the worst examples of child abuse he had been involved in.

“These cases are extremely confronting,” he said. “This child, now two, has long term injuries, a direct result of the assault, that will affect her for the rest of her life.”

Judge Harrison said images of her injuries made for horrific viewing.

She had multiple bruises and scrapes to her head and body.

“It’s almost impossible to comprehend how you could have treated this little baby the way you did,” he said.

“It is not clear what force other than to say that force needed to be excessive.”

Defence barrister Stephanie Williams said her client cannot remember what happened, but accepted he had been in charge of her care.

Ms Williams said her client was remorseful and had entered a guilty plea avoiding a trial.

The court was told the man had a history of domestic violence and had ignored court orders to address his anger issues prior to this offending.

Judge Harrison said it was a particularly serious example of causing grievous bodily harm.

It had been arranged with the baby’s mother that her father would look after her for a week. He had been left alone with the child.

“All the evidence suggests that she came to you ... as a healthy young baby and left only days later anything but,” Judge Harrison said.

IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPREHEND HOW YOU COULD HAVE TREATED THIS LITTLE BABY THE WAY YOU DID