Sunnybank Hills woman charged with causing baby’s life-threatening injuries

A mother who allegedly ‘rocked’ her baby hard enough to cause critical injuries has claimed the incident that put her child in hospital was an accident.

A mother accused of “rocking” her baby so hard it was left with life-threatening injuries has claimed the incident that put her child in hospital for months was an accident.

The 23-year-old, who cannot be identified, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with one count of grievous bodily harm.

Police were called to a Coomera home at about 2.30pm on February 1, where the woman’s then-five-month-old daughter had suffered a cardiac arrest and was having breathing difficulties.

It will be alleged the baby sustained significant internal injuries as a result of being rocked violently by the woman.

The infant was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

The court was told on Tuesday that the little girl was still fighting for life in hospital, suffering “quite significant” seizures and showing low brain activity.

The little girl’s mother was arrested on Thursday, following an operation led by detectives from the Gold Coast District Child Protection and Investigation Unit.

She remained in custody until making an application for bail in court on Tuesday.

Defence lawyer Kelli Martin, of KLM Solicitors, said the woman was at her mother’s home at the time of the alleged offence and immediately called for her help when the baby became lifeless.

“(This) is quite a significant accident – there’s no allegations this was done with an intent to harm the baby,” Ms Martin said.

“It’s simply rocking the baby hard enough to cause brain damage, and that in itself – there’s nothing in these facts that suggests she did that with intent.

“She’s suffering significant emotional distress as a result of what’s happening.”

Ms Martin said the Sunnybank Hills woman and her mother had a difficult relationship with “abuse both ways”, and claimed the older woman made social media posts about her daughter following the alleged offending.

She told the court her client was allowed supervised hospital visits to her daughter prior to being taken into custody, and wanted to remain close in case her baby’s health worsened.

“(The woman) lives with it every day – she’s struggling to sleep, it’s impacting (a medical) condition), her health isn’t good,” Ms Martin said.

“She’s managed to keep herself clean for the sake of getting there and being there for her children.”

Magistrate Veena Goverdhan granted the woman’s bail. The case will return to court on June 6.

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