Brodie Tull and Starr Light Cahill standing trial for alleged criminal neglect of their twin boys

An expert doctor has given their opinion on whether the horrific injuries to infant twin boys could have been caused by a dog or child, as claimed by their parents.

An expert doctor has given evidence that the multiple rib fractures of twin boys were unlikely caused by a dog or another child, as suggested by their parents.

Starr Light Cahill, 29, and Brodie Tull, 24, are standing trial in the District Court after pleading not guilty to two counts of criminal neglect.

The couple denied to police they were responsible for causing their sons’ injuries and gave explanations that they were caused by one of their dogs sitting on their chests or mishandling by Ms Cahill’s daughter.
Michael Foundas, prosecuting, told the court in his opening that the couple’s twin boys were born on March 8, 2022.

The court heard one of the twins presented at the Murray Bridge hospital on May 29, 2022.

Giving evidence this week, Dr Janine Tee, who specialises in forensic paediatrics, said when she held the first twin’s chest it was “really obviously clicky” which was “highly abnormal”.

Starr Cahill and Brodie Tull arriving at the District Court where they are facing charges of criminal neglect. Picture: Dean Martin

An examination revealed the first twin had 33 recent rib fractures, signs of 18 older rib fractures, a laceration to his liver, bruising and an older leg fracture.

The other twin was found to have 13 recent rib fractures and signs of 24 older rib fractures.

Dr Tee told the court the injuries were beyond the normal handling practices of babies and could have been caused by impact, such as a punch or a hit, or compression, such as squeezing.

Brodie Tull arriving at the District Court. Picture: Dean Martin

Starr Cahill arriving at the District Court. Picture: Dean Martin

Dr Tee was asked if a dog the size of a jack russell could have caused the injuries to the first twin if it had jumped up onto the swing he was in and sat on its chest for a period.

“No because … that incident would just cause contact to the front of the chest without any of the other applications of force that’s required to cause the collective of the injuries,” she replied.

“It’s very difficult to measure that force, but for a small dog, I would not expect that incident to cause any fractures.”

Dr Tee was then asked if a child who had her arms crossed across the chest of the first twin, with his head unsupported, could have caused any or all of the injuries.

She replied that while it could have potentially caused some of the side fractures it couldn’t explain the fractures next to the spine.

“We need to think about not just their ability to cause injury but their motivation to cause it … and all together, the ability, the motivation, the drive to actually do it repeatedly, in my opinion, makes it very unlikely that the siblings have actually done all of these injuries,” she said.

Dr Tee also offered the same explanations for the second twin’s injuries.

In cross examination Dr Tee was asked whether she could exclude a child causing either of the twins’ rib fractures.

“I don’t have enough information to be able to say definitively whether they – a child of seven – say, is able or not able to generate that force to cause fractures but would expect a greater degree of force to cause them,” she replied.

The trial, before a jury, continues.

Originally published as Brodie Tull and Starr Light Cahill standing trial for alleged criminal neglect of their twin boys