Emma Jade Short charged with criminal neglect, bail application delayed

The bail application for a mother charged with criminal neglect after her toddler suffered horrific burns has been delayed, with prosecutors deeming her a risk of contacting her kids if released.

The mother of a two-year-old boy who was horrifically burned and bruised has been deemed a risk of attempting to track down her children, resulting in her bail application being delayed.

Emma Jade Short, 34, appeared via custody in the Elizabeth Magistrate Court on Friday afternoon, charged with the criminal neglect of her son Jimmy*.

Short’s lawyer David Moen told the court they will be contesting the charges.

“We have a small window of about three minutes, there is no way she (Short) could have gone up to the room, boiled a kettle or turned on the shower and subject him to such injuries in that small amount of time,” he said.

“We will contest these charges.”

The police prosecutor argued that any mother would run the risk of seeing her children, even if it was from a distance, if granted bail.

“I’m sure she understands the terms however, what mother wouldn’t risk the chance of getting to see their children, even if it’s from a distance.”

Short was granted bail, but the prosecution asked the court to review the application, meaning she will appear in the Supreme Court next week.

Emma Short, who has been charged with criminal neglect of her two year old son, Jimmy*. Picture: Facebook

Ms Short first appeared on Monday following the charge, where the court heard a forensic paediatrician said the burns were consistent with the toddler being submerged in boiling water.

Ms Short took the boy, Jimmy*, into the Blair Athol doctor’s surgery on August 8 wrapped in a blanket before the doctor noticed serious burns on his face and body.

Rodney David Clough, 40, faced the same charge at the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, but did not apply for bail.

Police alleged the boy suffered the burns while staying at the nearby Comfort Inn Manhattan, on Main North Rd, with his mum and Mr Clough.

A police prosecutor told the court police attended the doctor’s surgery, where Ms Short told them her son had accidentally turned on the hot tap and she had “noticed steam rising” before turning the tap to cold and taking him to the doctor.

The court heard the forensic pediatrician’s examination of the boy concluded Ms Short’s story was “not adequately explained”.

The paediatrician also noted bruises on the boy’s neck consistent with him being grabbed by the scruff of the shirt.

Little Jimmy*, victim of alleged criminal neglect. Pictures: Supplied

The prosecutor said further tests on the boy allegedly showed there was methamphetamine detected in his urine.

He said investigations were ongoing into whether he had suffered brain injuries “due to a lack of oxygen as a result of being submerged in water”.

When formally interviewed by police, Ms Short, of Freeling, said she had gone out before returning to the Comfort Inn to find Mr Clough “panicked” and her son lying on a bed.

The court heard Mr Clough was both Ms Short’s partner and the toddler’s uncle.

Jimmy* was released from hospital on Thursday, 10 days after he was treated for his horrific injuries.

The grandmother of the two-year-old boy, Dennise Shepherd, said her heart sank when she saw The Advertiser’s story about her grandson Jimmy.

“My grandchildren are all I live for and my love for them is immeasurable,” she said.

“I feel useless and worried every minute that he is (not with me).

“I am a fighter and I will not stop at anything until (he is) safe.”

* The Advertiser has chosen to refer to the alleged victim with a pseudonym.