Shocking evidence revealed in child neglect trial

Shocking evidence has been revealed in day one of the trial of a man accused of injuring a child at a holiday rental home northeast of Grafton, NSW.

The man accused of serious child neglect being escorted to Tweed Heads Police Station in May, 2019.

The Grafton trial of a man accused of serious child neglect has heard shocking evidence, likening the child’s injuries to those resulting from a “high-speed car crash”.

At around midnight March 12, 2019, a 23-month-old girl presented to Maclean District Hospital with life-threatening injuries. A Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad investigation into the incident was launched, leading to the man’s arrest.

Doctors allegedly told police the girl had suffered a “catastrophic brain injury”, with the man accused of injuring the child at a holiday rental home northeast of Grafton. Police allege medical attention was only sought three days after the alleged injuries.

In an opening statement to the court, the prosecution said that the girl sustained significant head trauma including subdural and subarachnoid haemorrhage, and cerebral oedema. The girl also suffered chest injuries including a tear in the lung (pneumothorax) and bruising.

The court was later told the child’s injuries were consistent with a “high-speed car crash” or being “kicked by a horse” rather than the accused’s claim that she fell down a flight of stairs while he was out fishing.

The accused remained composed in the dock as the list of injuries sustained from the incident were read out to the jury panel.

The prosecution said that when police intercepted phone calls between the accused and his brother, the accused was panicking about going to jail after he “just snapped it”, later arriving at a story about the child falling down the stairs.

The court was told the child’s mother described the accused as a “violent and controlling person” who later overheard a phone conversation between the accused and his brother saying that he had hurt the child.

The accused entered a guilty plea for intending to pervert the course of justice during his arraignment, but has pleaded not guilty to the three remaining charges which include failing to provide for child cause danger of death, reckless grievous bodily harm, and causing grievous bodily harm to person with intent.

The District trial continues before judge Mark Buscombe.