Second house shooting investigated by police
THE parents of a baby boy have appeared in court accused of child neglect after he suffered horrendous injuries.
The court heard how the seven-month-old boy suffered a brain haemorrhage as well as bleeding behind his eye and fractures to his wrist and ribs.
His parents Beata Krafczyk, 26, of Church Avenue in Crosland Moor, and David Malek, 33, of Tanfield Road in Birkby, appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court.
The pair, both originally from Poland, are both accused of wilfully assaulting, ill-treating, neglecting, abandoning or exposing the child to unnecessary suffering or injury to health.
Krafczyk faces an additional charge of unlawfully and maliciously causing grievous bodily harm to the little boy.
The offences are said to have occurred at an address in Huddersfield between December 5, 2017 and January 18, 2018.
Both were aided by separate interpreters during the brief proceedings.
They spoke only to confirm their personal details and did not enter pleas to the charges.
District Judge Michael Fanning was told that Krafczyk denies causing her child’s fractures.
Malek claims that the boy fell from a swing but had no reason to think that he was injured or required medical assistance.
The court heard that the couple separated last December and now live at different addresses in the town.
Judge Fanning told the pair : “Your case can only be dealt with by the Crown Court at Leeds.
“I’m therefore sending you to appear there at 9.30am on March 12.”
Both were granted unconditional bail in the meantime. DETECTIVES are investigating a shooting in Batley on Sunday night – the second such incident in Kirklees in less than a week.
Armed officers swooped on Chapel Fold, Staincliffe, after reports of shots fired at a house.
Damage was found to the property which West Yorkshire Police have confirmed was consistent with a firearm.
No one reported any injuries and an investigation was launched by Kirklees CID.
It follows a similar incident just three days before on Wasp Nest Road in Birkby, where a gun was fired at a house.
Det Insp Mark Catney, of Kirklees CID, said of the Batley incident: “We are treating this as a targeted attack and inquiries are ongoing to trace those involved.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting crime reference 13190074916 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.