ABC personality among six guarantors to secure alleged baby basher’s freedom

An ABC personality is willing to offer cash to help secure bail for an alleged baby basher, the Supreme Court has heard.

The father-of-five, who has been charged after his young baby suffered serious injuries, is led into court. Picture: 7NEWS

An ABC personality has been offered to the Supreme Court as a guarantor to secure an alleged baby basher’s bail.

The accused man, whose identity has been suppressed, appeared in the Supreme Court on Friday in front of Justice Sandi McDonald for an ongoing home detention bail application.

Marie Shaw KC, one of the state’s most senior barristers, for the man, told the court her client had six members of the community willing to offer guarantees and cash sureties – including an ABC employee and personality.

Ms Shaw said the ABC employee had sponsored the family in 2007 and has had a longstanding “interest in supporting the family”.

He is not accused of any wrongdoing.

A guarantor to a bail agreement offers a sum of money to the court on behalf of an accused party that is forfeit to the court if the accused breaches the conditions of the bail.

The man, a father of five, is charged with one count of criminal neglect and one court of aggravated causing harm with intent. He is yet to enter a plea.

It is alleged the man was looking after his three-month-old baby on October 13 when he dropped her from a height of 1.3m.

The baby remained in hospital for six weeks after sustaining a number of injuries, including a skull fracture, spinal fractures, retinal damage and brain bleeding.

A doctor’s report concluded the baby’s skull fracture could be accounted for by the 1.3m fall but the balance of the injuries could not be and were more consistent with “being thrown into a wall”.

The man is accused of causing life-threatening injuries to his three-month old baby in October last year. Picture: 7NEWS

During a previous hearing, defence counsel submitted their client was suffering “financial hardship” – which was rebutted by prosecutors, who said the man possessed a multimillion-dollar collection of assets.

Justice McDonald noted the total amount offered to the court from all guarantors – while not “insignificant” – was less than cash amounts previously located in the man’s home.

The court heard one of the proposed guarantors also included a prospective employer, who had known the man for approximately one year.

Prosecutors said they had been advised of the prospective guarantors recently, and would need time to complete some due diligence checks.

Justice McDonald raised a further concern the man had previously attempted to “mislead” the court in prior hearings – which Ms Shaw submitted was due to “translation issues” during statements taken by prior legal counsel.

Her Honour gave all parties time to complete further investigations, and adjourned the matter to return to court later this month.

Originally published as ABC personality among six guarantors to secure alleged baby basher’s freedom