Court Doctor says baby’s injuries were no accident

❝ That would require intention rather than an accident, someone acting without any due care Dr George Rylance

ACATALOGUE of serious injuries sustained by a baby were intentionally caused, a court has been told.

A jury heard the six-month-old was taken to Bristol Children’s Hospital with a cut tongue.

Further examination revealed that she had bruises to her face and chest, up to 17 fractured ribs and two broken legs.

Bristol Crown Court heard when police interviewed her mother, father and grandmother, now aged 23, 24 and 43 respectively, each denied wrongdoing.

The three, who the Post are not naming to protect the identity of the child, are now on trial.

They each deny wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, as well as an alternative charge of wounding and a further charge of causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm.

They also deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent, as well as an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm and a further of causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm.

The court heard the baby was put into foster care and has since been adopted.

When interviewed by police the dad suggested the baby may have cut her tongue on a toy and the fractures were caused by others.

The mother said her baby would scream when the dad changed her nappy, which may account for the fractures, and she didn’t trust him.

The grandmother said a toy or dummy could have cut the baby’s tongue, and also said that the childscreamed when the father changed her.

Dr George Rylance, a consultant paediatrician, said that he had reflected on the baby’s injuries and accounts of possible causation by the accused.

Regarding the cut to the baby’s tongue, he discounted that it had been caused by a toy or spoon and said that either a sharp edge was pushed into her tongue or something sharp was dragged along its surface.

He told the court: “That would require intention rather than an accident, someone acting without any due care.”

Regarding the child’s bruises, Dr Rylance said they were caused by gripping “greatly in excess of normal handling”.

He told the court: “Some person caused this bruising directly or indirectly by their actions.”

Dr Rylance said the child suffered rib fractures by someone squeezing her rib cage non-accidentally.

He said her broken legs were also caused by significant, non-accidental force.

He told the court: “All the injuries were non-accidental caused by someone doing something to her on at least two occasions.”

The case continues.