Qimin Benedict Seah: Baby left with broken bones, brain bleed
A man has described the incident which left a newborn baby fighting for life as “a game” and that he was “just playing”. However the bub was left with shocking injuries including broken bones, a bleed on the brain and detached retinas.
North Shore
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A man who injured an eight-week old baby so badly she was left with broken bones and bleeding on the brain has professed his remorse at the horrifying incident he described as “just play”.
The tragic tale was laid bare in the Downing Centre District Court on Monday as 28-year-old Qimin Benedict Seah avoided being sent to jail after pleading guilty to injuring the child.
The young baby’s injuries, the court was told, were not consistent with the story of falling over with the child Seah had initially told emergency department staff at Royal North Shore Hospital.
The bub spent a weekend in hospital with a series of injuries including suspected detached retinas and fractures in her left leg after Seah’s actions.
The court heard as a result of her injuries, sustained at an address in Killara, the child required intensive care.
Agreed facts read out in court reveal Seah eventually admitted he would spin around with the baby in his arm and that she was “shook” in what he thought was a game.
“These are very serious injuries and absolutely catastrophic consequences, it’s indeed fortunate the child has made a good recovery, however it’s still early days and the child was only eight weeks old at the time,” Crown prosecutor Sean Hughes told the court.
Seah had written a letter of apology and had numerous character references on his behalf tendered to the court.
He had pleaded guilty to negligently causing grievous bodily harm earlier this year.
Seah’s lawyer had told the court how he deeply regretted his actions in the “exceptionally tragic” case and intends on returning to his native Taiwan after serving his sentence in NSW.
“In the material that’s tendered the expression of remorse is genuine, genuine remorse,” defence barrister Wali Shukoor said.
“Mr Seah has insight and he deeply regrets his conduct.”
Seah was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order and will have to report to authorities in Sutherland.