Brodie Tull and Starr Light Cahill found guilty of two counts of criminal neglect against twin boys

A jury has returned its verdict in the criminal neglect trial of two parents whose 12-week-old twin babies were found with horrific injuries inflicted at varying times.

• Shock evidence witnesses told jury

The parents of twin boys who were found with horrific rib fractures are now behind bars after a jury rejected the defence that the nine-year-old sibling was responsible.

Starr Light Cahill, 29, and Brodie Tull, 24, were found guilty by a jury in the District Court late Wednesday of two counts of criminal neglect.

Michael Foundas, prosecuting, told the court in his opening that the couple’s twin boys were born on March 8, 2022.

One of the twins presented at the Murray Bridge hospital on May 29, 2022.

Starr Cahill and Brodie Tull arriving at the District Court where they are facing charges of criminal neglect. Picture: Dean Martin

An examination by an expert forensic pediatrician revealed the boy had 33 recent rib fractures, signs of 18 older rib fractures, a laceration to his liver, bruising and an older leg fracture.

“On the prosecution case, (the boy) had been the victim of at least one recent and one older occasion of deliberate inflictions of force, particularly to his chest,” Mr Foundas said.

The court heard a medical examination found the other twin had 13 recent rib fractures and signs of 24 older rib fractures.

“It is the prosecution case that those incredibly vulnerable and helpless infant twins were failed by the two people who should have been caring for them and keeping them safe,” Mr Foundas said.

“Mr Tull’s temperament, on the prosecution case, might be described as someone who is quick to anger or easily set off.”

The couple claimed to police either their dog, by sitting on twins’ chest, or Ms Cahill’s daughter mishandling the babies is what caused the injuries.

Cahill’s mother, Donna Sweeney, gave evidence in the trial that during a visit to the couple’s home she observed Cahill’s unsupervised nine-year-old daughter holding one of the twins “like a ragdoll”.

She said Tull was allegedly smoking cannabis in the laundry at the time and noted the house was filthy, with rubbish on the floor and piles of dog faeces.

Brodie Tull arriving at the District Court. Picture: Dean Martin

Starr Cahill arriving at the District Court. Picture: Dean Martin

In her closing address, Julia Davey, for Cahill, said her client didn’t know about the injuries to the twins or cause them.

Adam Richards, for Tull, told the jury they couldn’t exclude the possibility that the injury could have been inflicted by the twins’ siblings.

After the guilty verdicts, Callum Slater, for the prosecution, asked for bail to be revoked for both Cahill and Tull.

“To have been found guilty of the criminal neglect of your own child is quite confronting and in my submission a period of imprisonment is inevitable,” he said.

Ms Davey, opposed the application, saying she needed time to seek a psychological report and for Cahill to sort out her rental property.

Mr Richards also opposed the application, saying he didn’t agree that an immediate jail term was the only possible outcome.

However, Judge Ian White revoked both the defendants’ bail and adjourned the case until July for sentencing submissions.