Adelaide parents Michael Fidge and Samantha Bennett standing trial for alleged criminal neglect of four-month-old son
A leading pediatrician says injuries sustained by a four-month-old baby are very concerning” because children that age can’t “bruise themselves”, a court heard.
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A top Adelaide pediatrician believes bruising sustained by a four-month-old baby – allegedly at the hands of his parents – is “very concerning”, because children of that age can’t generate enough force to “bruise themselves”, a court has heard.
Samantha Claire Bennett, 37, of Flagstaff Hill, and Michael Steven Fidge, 27, of Thompson Beach, are standing trial in the District Court this week in front of Judge Emily Telfer after pleading not guilty to criminal neglect.
On Friday, Dr Patrina Lee – who conducted observations and a medical exam on the baby following its admission to the Lyell McEwin Hospital – told the court, under oath, the child was initially seen to be visibly “distressed”.
“His left leg was observed to be significantly swollen, and when we took down the bandages … we noticed significant bruising,” Dr Lee said.
“There was a large bruise over the front of the jaw – that bruise size was around 2cm x 1cm in size.
“The location of the bruises is very concerning because young babies, who are not mobile, do not bruise. They do not have the developmental capacity – particularly in this age group of four-to-five months – to generate sufficient forces to bruise themselves.
“We know from recent studies that have been done that there are certain locations – certain sites – on the body where bruising is seen which would make one more suspicious that an injury has been inflicted. That includes bruising over the torso, around the ears or around the neck – particularly in infants.”
The court previously heard the couple’s son presented to hospital on April 13, 2021 – and was examined by doctors, who found he had a number of injuries, including multiple bruises all over his body.
The boy was sent off for X-rays and CTs, revealing a total of 16 injuries – including eight fractures to his legs, three rib fractures, as well as fractures to the humerus and cartilage where the rib attaches to the sternum.
The court heard the couple both claimed to have no knowledge of what caused the injuries, with Ms Bennett alleging their son’s two-year-old brother may have “fell on them”.
On Thursday, prosecutor Jim Pearce KC told the jury the couple put forward a “nonsense” story to police.
On Friday, Dr Lee told the court she was concerned three bruises across the child’s lower cheek and neck were sustained following a “gripping injury”.
She further submitted that, upon examination of its eyes, the baby was found to have “bilateral sub-conjunctival haemorrhages” – a broken blood vessel in the eye.
The trial will continue on Monday.
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