Closing statements in Brodie Tull and Starr Light Cahill’s trial for alleged criminal neglect of their twin boys

One parent has blamed a child for horrific injuries to twin boys, while the other said they weren’t even aware of the injuries. Now they both await their fate.

A couple have argued they aren’t responsible for causing horrific rib fractures to their twin boys, with one lawyer saying the case is “every parent’s worst nightmare”.

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.

Michael Foundas, prosecuting, told the court in his opening that the couple’s twin boys were born on March 8, 2022.

One of the twins presented at the Murray Bridge hospital on May 29, 2022.

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

An examination by an expert forensic pediatrician revealed the boy had 33 recent rib fractures, signs of 18 older rib fractures, a laceration to his liver, bruising and an older leg fracture.

“On the prosecution case, (the boy) had been the victim of at least one recent and one older occasion of deliberate inflictions of force, particularly to his chest,” Mr Foundas said.

The court heard a medical examination found the other twin had 13 recent rib fractures and signs of 24 older rib fractures.

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.  

Ms Cahill’s mother gave evidence that during a visit she observed Ms Cahill’s unsupervised nine-year-old daughter holding one of the twins “like a ragdoll”, while Mr Tull was allegedly smoking cannabis in the laundry.

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

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

In her closing address, Julia Davey, for Ms Cahill, said her client was the one who took the first twin to the Emergency Department, which showed she was looking after the boys and caring for them.

The court heard Ms Cahill started to cry in the police interview after finding out her second son was also injured and said “I would never hurt my children”.

“Is that the actions of a mother who is neglectful of her children? I don’t think so,” Ms Davey said.

“She didn’t know. She didn’t do it. The prosecution can’t prove she did.”

Adam Richards, for Mr Tull, told the jury they couldn’t exclude the possibility that the injury could have been inflicted by a child.

“We know that on one occasion the eldest child was seen holding the baby in a way that was deeply concerning,” he said.

Mr Richards said the fact that someone smokes marijuana and has a dirty house doesn’t mean they’re violent to children.

“Is it a crime of neglect to leave a baby alone for only a few seconds?” he said.

“In my respectful submission, this case is … every parent’s worst nightmare. We’re asking that nightmare to end.”

Mr Foundas said each of the accused failed to provide a suitable household for the care and protection of the twins.

“They failed to properly care for them, to properly supervise them and/or to properly guard against the risk that either of them or some other person might behave in a way that has the potential to cause the twins’ harm,” he said.

“We can exclude the dog or (the other child) or any of the other innocent explanations that have been proffered throughout the course of the trial.”

The jury will now begin their deliberations.

Originally published as Closing statements in Brodie Tull and Starr Light Cahill’s trial for alleged criminal neglect of their twin boys