Man sentenced for rough treatment of baby daughter

I don’t understand why you hurt her so many times.

— Mother of the victim

A former Prince George man was sentenced Wednesday to three years probation for treating his infant daughter so roughly he broke several of her bones.

In issuing the sentence, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Marguerite Church agreed with a joint submission from Crown and defence counsels, who told the court the injuries were not inflicted intentionally and have not left any permanent damage.

The man, whose name cannot be published under a court-ordered publication ban against information that would identify the victim to the general public, was only 21 years old at the time, “and clearly did not have the parenting skills to cope with his infant daughter.”

Over the course of 11 weeks, starting when she was just one month old, the girl suffered fractures to three of her ribs and a femur, as well as bruises to her wrists, shoulders, ankles and back and two cuts to the inside of her mouth.

All of the injuries occurred when he was alone with the girl, usually when becoming frustrated while trying to soothe and quiet her but also when he tripped while getting out of a rocking chair and holding her too tightly, bruising her back.

The mother and daughter left the home and in the 4 1/2 years since then, he has refrained from trying to see the girl.

And a few days after the mother and daughter had left him, he called Project Parent North to say he wanted to learn how to handle a baby. Prior to sentencing, the mother delivered an emotion-filled victim impact statement.

“I don’t understand why you hurt her so many times,” she said though sobs as the father looked on from the prisoner’s box.

“I gave you the most amazing thing I could ever give anyone and you broke it. You literally broke her.”

She went on to say she was “bombarded” with questions from physicians, investigators and social workers and worried the girl would be taken away from her.

She vowed to protect her daughter from him for the rest of her life and put the blame squarely on his shoulders.

The man, who no longer lives in Prince George, has accepted full responsibility, the court was told.

Church found the sentence falls within the range for the offence albeit at the low end. But she also noted he pleaded guilty to a count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and has lived up to conditions during the time he has been on bail.

Conditions of his probation include taking councilling.