Baby’s injuries not necessarily inflicted, pathologist tells trial

HOKITIKA

A SPECIALIST forensic pathologist in the High Court at Greymouth yesterday agreed under crossexamination that the fatal injuries sustained by a 10monthold Hokitika baby were not something he would expect to occur after a short fall.

Baby CJ White died at Hokitika on July 9 last year. He had a large number of bruises all over his body, coupled with complex skull fractures, bleeding to the brain and behind both eyes.

CJ’s father, David Sinclair, is charged with murder and is being tried by a jury. The case is before Justice Rebecca Edwards.

Yesterday, a forensic pathologist, Prof Johan Duflou, gave evidence for the defence. He said some of the smaller bruises on CJ’s body — there were 30 altogether — could be explained as typical toddler injuries.

He also said bruises to the baby’s cheek and ears, which were generally often a result of child abuse, could be accidental.

Prof Duflou also said the fatal brain injury CJ received could be from a fall from something as low as 15cm, although he admitted it was rare to see such injuries in a baby of CJ’s age.

Speaking about the retinal bleeding, Prof Duflou also said the injuries were conducive with an inflicted injury, however, that did not mean they were inflicted.

In crossexamination, Prof Duflou, when asked why he did not comment on the bruising around CJ’s genital area, told Crown prosecutor Deirdre Elsmore that he was not asked to.

Asked by Mrs Elsmore if he thought the bruising to CJ’s scrotum and groin area could have been inflicted, Prof Duflou said, ‘‘Yes.’’

‘‘It is very likely those injuries were inflicted and I don’t believe they were caused by a fall down some stairs.’’

The judge was expected to sum up the case yesterday afternoon. — Greymouth Star