Adelaide father accused of causing horrific injuries to baby wins bail in Supreme Court, which says his wife called police eight times

The wife of a man who allegedly caused horrific injuries to his infant baby called police eight times with domestic violence fears, a court has heard – as the man is bailed.

An alleged baby basher has been released on bail after a three-month fight, with a court hearing his wife had previously called police eight times over domestic violence fears.

The Adelaide father, whose identity is suppressed, fronted Justice Sandi McDonald in the Supreme Court for an ongoing home detention bail bid since first being remanded into custody in December.

On Tuesday, Justice McDonald said the man’s wife – who supported him throughout his court appearances – had called police on eight separate occasions with domestic violence allegations while she was pregnant with their youngest child, the alleged victim, in 2022.

The man, a father of five, has only been charged with one count of criminal neglect and one count of aggravated causing harm with intent. He is yet to enter any pleas.

“She describes (her husband) being abusive and hitting her,” Justice McDonald said. “She told the police that he also punched her to the arm and slapped her to the face.”

The man being taken into custody after his first court appearance in December. Picture: 7NEWS

As a result of the allegations, the court heard the woman took out an intervention order against her husband.

On each of the eight alleged occasions when police responded to concerns of domestic violence, the court heard the couple’s children were all present at the scene.

On one of the occasions, when police arrived at the family home, the court heard the wife “lied to them” by telling officers her husband was not home.

“Police then conducted a search of the premises,” Justice McDonald said. “After police had been there for approximately 20 minutes, they heard a noise coming from the laundry. When they went to investigate the noise, they saw (the man) attempting to hide by standing between the door and open built-in cupboard.”

Outside court, the woman was approached by waiting media who asked if she “felt safe” with her husband being released on home detention bail.

The wife of the alleged baby-basher leaves court after her husband was bailed. Picture: Charlie Dadds

Outside court, she said her husband was innocent. Picture: Charlie Dadds

She responded just once, saying her husband “was innocent”.

It’s alleged the man was looking after his three-month-old baby on October 13, 2024, when he dropped her from a height of 1.3m.

The baby remained in hospital for six weeks after sustaining a number of injuries, including a skull fracture, spinal fractures, retinal damage and brain bleeding.

The injuries, which resulted in the baby being diagnosed with cerebral palsy, were “more consistent with high impact – such as being thrown into a wall – rather than being dropped in a straight line”, prosecution alleged at his first appearance.

Last week, Justice McDonald said the man, and his family, had a “history” of lies.

Earlier this year, they claimed they were suffering “financial hardship” while he was in custody, despite financial records unearthing a war chest of millions.

On Tuesday, Justice McDonald granted the man’s bail application and ordered him to be released from custody next week.

He will live with his mother and sister, while his baby will reside with the man’s cousin.

The man will be back in court in May.