Nicholas Trent Masling pleads guilty to manslaughter after shaking baby daughter

A man has admitted shaking his new distressed daughter so hard she suffered a critical brain injury – which put her in hospital for 17 months before dying.

A father has admitted violently shaking his 41-day old daughter, causing a critical brain injury that led to her death after more than 17 months in hospital, a court has heard.

Nicholas Trent Masling, 33, pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter in the Supreme Court on Thursday.

The court heard Masling had removed the “distressed and crying” baby from her cot on June 5, 2016 and “shook the child”.

The almost six-week-old suffered a critical brain injury and was unresponsive when paramedics arrived at her Whyalla Stuart home.

She was transferred to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital where she died in November 2017.

Days later, SA Police declared the infant’s death a major crime and Masling was arrested in March 2020.

Steven Millsteed, QC, for Masling, told the court his client admitted shaking his baby but denied intending to cause her harm or inflicting any other injuries.

“The act of shaking (the baby) caused respiratory arrest and brain injury,” he said.

“The act of shaking (her) was an impulsive, unlawful act – and dangerous act – performed by Mr Masling without intention to harm (her) in any way.”

He told the court Mr Masling was not responsible for bruises doctors found on the baby’s head, or any fractures she suffered.

Nicholas Masling leaving the Adelaide Magistrates Court after an earlier hearing. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

He said Masling also did not inflict “any other injuries including the fractures – ribs and leg – that were depicted in the medical imaging”.

He there was “an explanation for those bruises”, but that information would be revealed at a later hearing.

“Mr Masling did not physically abuse (his child) in any way prior to the charged offence,” Ms Millsteed said.

When her death was declared a major crime, Inspector Greg Hutchins described the case as “truly tragic”.

“She was one of our most vulnerable citizens – at the time that police responded to the Whyalla Stuart address she was only 41 days old,” he said. “She deserved better.”

He said the baby was a “little fighter” who continued fighting for her life for a long time before her death.

“This is a tragic case,” he said. “This little girl required 24-7 nursing care her entire life.”

Masling returns to court in June.