Blunt force denial

Man refuting claims he injured young son

THE partner of a Cairns North man accused of assaulting his young son told police she previously had to intervene out of concern for the child’s safety when he “physically disciplined” the boy.

The boy was aged just 2½ at the time and had to undergo surgery after suffering a major head injury.

The 33-year-old father, who cannot be named, is on trial in the Cairns District Court for grievous bodily harm and has denied causing the injury to the boy in May, 2015.

In one of three interviews played to the court, police asked how the boy could have suffered the injuries during the two-minute period he took him into a bedroom after being showered.

“I don’t know, I don’t know how it happened,” he said.

“When I put him down I did not slam him down at all.

“I didn’t crack him around the head.”

The man told police during the interview he had been preparing to put the boy’s nappy on when the child kicked him, held his fists up beside his head and looked angry.

He said the boy kicked him again then began “fitting”.

He called out to his partner who came into the room and said “what did you do?” before putting him in the recovery position and telling the man to call an ambulance.

During the interview, police told the man his partner had told them she had seen him “physically discipline” the boy to the point where she had to step in.

The detectives said she had also seen him push the boy away when he tried to hug his father.

Forensic paediatrician Dr Catherine Skellern told the court according to medical reports the boy had bruising to the front of his neck, shoulder and buttocks and suspected finger marks on his face and neck.

Dr Skellern said the injuries to the boy’s head were consistent with “blunt force trauma”.

She told the court the boy also had an arm fracture which was about a week old.

The trial continues today.