Rhyan Stephens tells court he was likely stoned when toddler suffered serious injuries

A man accused of bashing a toddler has told a court the child’s rib injuries were likely caused when he performed CPR on him after nearly letting him drown in the bath.

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

A man accused of leaving an 18-month-old toddler with 10 rib fractures, a damaged liver and a split pancreas was smoking up to “30 bongs a day” while living with the child, a court has heard.

Rhyan Jon Stephens, 36, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of intentionally causing harm to the toddler, who is not his child. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is standing trial in the District Court.

The child’s injuries were first discovered when he was taken to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital on July 15, 2020.

When he was X-rayed doctors discovered the child had healing rib fractures predating the injuries that led to him being taken to hospital.

Last week Mr Stephens took the stand in his own defence.

Nick Vadasz, for Mr Stephens, questioned his client about his drug use leading up to the incident.

Mr Stephens said he would smoke up to 30 bongs on days when he was not caring for the children and would normally start smoking cannabis with his morning coffee or after dropping the kids off at school and child care.

Rhyan Stephens is standing trial accused of assaulting and causing harm to an 18 month old child. Picture: Facebook

Even while caring for the children he would “smoke a bong every hour”.

Mr Stephens said the victim had nearly drowned in the bath at one point during his care.

District Court Judge Michael Burnett, who is presiding over the trial without a jury, heard Mr Stephens could not remember the date but the victim and another child had been in the bath together.

Mr Stephens said he took one child out and got her ready for bed and went back into the bathroom to find the victim beneath the water.

He told the court he had “probably been smoking” that day and had lost track of time.

Mr Stephens said he pulled the child out of the bath and started CPR, including chest compressions, until the child regained consciousness.

He told the court he believed the earlier rib injuries were a result of the chest compressions, but conceded he had not taken the child to hospital or called for an ambulance.

Mr Stephens said the more recent injuries to the child were caused when the toddler climbed on top of him while he was asleep on the couch and he had accidentally “elbowed” the victim.

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

He said he did not realise the child had been injured and “didn’t think any more of it” until the toddler was taken to hospital.

Karen Ingleton, prosecuting, showed Mr Stephens his first interview with police when he was told about the healing rib fractures.

The detectives asked Mr Stephens if he had any idea what had caused the earlier injuries and he replied “honestly, I do not”.

Ms Ingleton pressed Mr Stephens on why he had not told anyone about the bath incident.

“I was afraid of losing what I already had,” he responded.

During Ms Ingleton’s trial opening she also told the court the toddler had injuries to the tip of his penis likely caused “forceful ripping or pinching”.

The trial continues.