Man accused of killing baby can’t be named

A publication ban has been ordered preventing media from identifying a two-month-old infant and the Peterborough man accused of killing the baby in the fall of 2021.

City police announced Thursday a 29-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault after an 18-month investigation that involved city police detectives, the Coroner’s Office, Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, the suspected child abuse and neglect unit at the Hospital for Sick Children, Durham Regional Police and Toronto Police.

The infant was taken to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre in distress on Nov. 2, 2021, city police said.

The baby was eventually stabilized then transported to the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto by Ornge air ambulance, but died on Nov. 6, 2021, after being taken off life support, police said.

The investigation was turned over to the city police major crime homicide unit after “medical testing revealed that the infant had sustained catastrophic internal injuries,” police said Thursday.

Police did not release the relationship between the infant and the accused, but court documents reveal they share the same surname.

The man appeared in the Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough on Friday via video from the Water Street city police station.

His charges were remanded to later this week, when the man’s lawyer is expected to set a bail hearing date in the Superior Court of Justice.

During his brief court appearance, the justice of the peace ordered the man not to have contact with a long list of people, including the infant’s mother

Further, assistant Crown attorney Joleen Hiland requested and was granted a 486. 4 (2.1) publication. The ban protects the identity of victims under 18. Because of the close relationship of the infant and man, naming the accused would identify the victim.

The matter returns to court Friday.