Rhyan Jon Stephens stands trial accused of causing multiple injuries to an 18-month-old child

A man on trial over shocking injuries to a toddler – including 10 broken ribs, split pancreas said “I’m a monster”, a court was told. Warning: Graphic

An 18-month-old child had 10 ribs fractured, his liver damaged and his pancreas split from end-to-end after having his chest compressed, a court has heard.

Rhyan Jon Stephens is standing trial in the District Court on two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of intentionally causing harm to the toddler.

Opening the trial on Wednesday, Karen Ingleton, prosecuting, said the child’s injuries showed he had been subjected to at least two assaults over a period of several months.

On July 15, 2020 the child was taken by his mother to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

The toddler was lethargic, not eating and vomiting.

Rhyan Stevens is standing trial for causing harm and assaulting an 18 month old child. Picture: Facebook

Initial scans showed he had a fractured rib on his left side and unusual liver enzymes indicative of damage to the organ.

He also had a large bruise to the tip of his penis.

Further scans showed the boy had suffered 13 separate injuries with the most serious of those, a split pancreas, already healing.

Judge Michael Burnett, who is hearing the trial in the absence of a jury, heard the likely cause of the injuries was forceful compression of the chest, forcing the pancreas, which is usually protected by other organs, into the spine.

The bruise to the penis was likely caused by “forceful ripping or pinching”, Ms Ingleton said.

The court heard the child had been taken to hospital in May that year with a similar injury to his penis.

The court heard Mr Stephens had fallen asleep on the couch on July 13 and said he woke to find the child standing next to him.

He told police he tried to get the child back to sleep but the toddler ended up sleeping in the same bed as the accused.

The next day the child was unwell and the mother, who is not accused of wrongdoing, made an appointment to see a GP on July 15.

The doctor told the mother to take the child straight to hospital.

In the weeks after the incident the court heard Mr Stephens has made alleged confessions to the crime.

He told his employer that the child’s injuries might have been caused by being punched through a pillow.

Stephens approached his ex-wife and while crying said “I’m a monster”.

“He said he did it when everyone else in the house was asleep, when he couldn’t sleep he would push down on the child,” Ms Ingleton said.

“He would be face up and sleeping and (Mr Stephens) would push down on him.”

Rhyan Stevens is standing trial for causing harm and assaulting an 18 month old child. Picture: Facebook

Ms Ingleton said Mr Stephens had described what he did by putting his hands together in a “CPR gesture” and pushing down.

Mr Stephens also called the mother of the child and said “it wasn’t me, but it was me, something took over”.

He was arrested on July 26 after going to the Noarlunga Hospital emergency department trying to get help because he was “struggling with his mood and anger”.

Before the trial begun, Nick Vadasz, for Mr Stephens asked the court to investigate whether his client had a mental incompetence defence to the charge.

Judge Burnett ordered the necessary reports but said the trial into the objective elements – or the physical actions Mr Stephens is alleged to have performed will go ahead.

The subjective elements, or whether he had the intention to commit the crime will be examined in the reports.

The trial continues.