‘Shaken’ baby released from hospital, returned to mother’s home

A four-month old girl who suffered a fractured skull and a brain heamorrhage due to being allegedly shaken by her father has been released from hospital and returned to her mother’s home.

In July, the girl was admitted to the Gozo General Hospital suffering from critical injuries and was subsequently conveyed to Mater Dei Hospital by helicopter due to the extent of her injuries.

In court, doctors Simon Mifsud, Mariella Mangion, and Professor Simon Attard Montalto told the court that the child had suffered several bruises on her shoulder, stomach, ribs, and forehead.

A CT scan also discovered that the girl had a brain heamorrhage, injuries that according to Profs Attard Montalto are compatible to a “very strong and violent shaking.”

Doctor Mariella Mangion had also told the court that the girl was bleeding at the back of her eyes, and that this was one of the symptoms of a shaken baby.

The baby’s father, a 26-year-old man from Nadur whose name has been banned by court order, is pleading not guilty to grievously injuring his daughter. The father is also insisting that he shook his daughter after he saw her having a fit, claims seconded by the accused’s wife.

In its decree this afternoon, presiding Magistrate Joanne Vella Cuschieri ordered that the child is to be returned home since the father is living is now living with his parents.

However, the Magistrate’s Court in Gozo also ordered social workers to monitor the minor’s care and to compile a report on the case.

Inspectors Joseph Busuttil and Frank Tabone prosecuted, while lawyer Lucio Sciriha is representing the accused.