Mum demands answers over baby son Israel Rimene’s death in Hamilton
The partner of the mother of an 11-month-old boy who was found dead face down in his cot with two black eyes, head injuries and marks all over his body was the last one to see him alive a court has heard.
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A mother says she wants answers to the last moments of her son’s life after a court heard the 11-month-old boy died with two black eyes, head injuries and distressing marks all over his body.
Tanita Brenssell’s partner Quinton Thompson was the last one to see him alive after finding him face down in his cot that was covered in vomit and blood on July 13, 2015, at 3am, the inquest into the boy’s death was told on Tuesday.
The mum told police Israel Rimene was showering with Mr Thompson earlier that evening when the toddler had a “tumble” and was “a bit whingy”.
The Coroner’s Court heard Mr Thompson moved into Ms Brenssell’s home two months before the death and not long after Israel stopped going to childcare.
Three days before he died, Israel had two black eyes and his mum told police that was from an accident after a toy was thrown in a cot and hit him.
The autopsy revealed Israel experienced at least two episodes of violent trauma, had a healing fracture of the leg, a healing torn lip, healing ulcerated lesions on both ankles, brain injury.
Counsel assisting the Coroner, Rachel Ellyard, said Israel’s two older brothers said they witnessed Mr Thompson give “hard slaps” to Israel.
“(The brothers) said that he had seen Mr Thompson hit Baby Israel on the head arms and that he had also hit the other children,” she said.
“Mr Thompson was the last one to see Baby Israel before he was discovered gravely ill.
“The evidence also is that in that last month Mr Thompson took on increasing responsibility for Baby Israel’s care and that Ms Brenssell found this helpful and quite a change from her past experiences with partners and their willingness to help.”
Ms Brenssell and Mr Thompson were questioned by homicide detectives afterwards but no charges were laid.
Outside court Ms Brenssell remembered her big brown-eyed boy, who always smiled, loved to blow kisses and listening to reggae music.
“He was just a beautiful, spirited boy,” she said.
“I hope to learn more about the last days that he has had and to understand more and get closure and hopefully justice on the trauma that he has suffered.”
The inquest into the death was told after the shower fall Israel appeared fine as he ate dinner and had a bottle.
Mr Thompson gave Israel another bottle at 11.45pm and then went and smoked marijuana, the court heard.
Israel was checked at 3am, was found face down in vomit, was limp and not responsive.
Dr Linda Iles, from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, said hair tests from Israel found there was presence of MDMA, cannabis and methamphetamine in the house.
But none was found in his blood because it was more likely from the environment he was being exposed to as drugs were used in the home, the inquest heard.
The court was told there were marks on the face, which could indicate smothering and injuries to his head from blunt trauma.
“All those things are possible that we have to think about,” she said.
But she said despite the injuries, she was unable to ascertain an exact cause of death.
Sgt Mark Phillips attended the home on the night and noted that Mr Thompson was rushing around the house in a “panicked manner” and acting erratic.
Sgt Phillips recalled holding Israel’s hand while doing CPR on him to free up paramedics to get the van ready for transportation.
“I had hope for Israel,” he said, recalling the child’s hand was still warm.
“It’s something you never forget.
‘When we were going there, I assume we were going for a cot death. When I saw the black eyes, I knew there was something more to it.’’
He also told the court Mr Thompson was “quite concerned” his talk with police was being recorded.
Triple-0 records show Ms Brenssell’s frantic cries for help.
“He’s not breathing. How do I do it?” she tells the operator, asking about CPR.
Mr Thompson did CPR on Israel but paramedics described it as “aggressive”.
The inquest continues.