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

The father of twin boys who were found with multiple rib fractures was allegedly smoking marijuana while one of his sons was “dangling like a ragdoll”, a court has heard.

One of the infant twin boys found with multiple rib fractures in an alleged case of criminal neglect was seen “dangling like a ragdoll” when left unsupervised with another child, a court has heard.

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.

They were born premature at 32 weeks and spent six weeks in hospital before being discharged home.

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

Starr Cahill and Brodie Tull are charged with criminal neglect. Picture: Facebook

Starr Cahill gave birth to the twin boys in March 2022. Picture: Facebook

“He was not breathing properly, he was making grunting noises and his chest was making an unusual clicking sound,” Mr Foundas said.

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.

Police attended the house to check on the other twin the following day.

A medical examination found he had 13 recent rib fractures and signs of 24 older rib fractures.

“It is the prosecution case that those incredibly vulnerable and helpless infant twins were failed by the two people who should have been caring for them and keeping them safe,” Mr Foundas said.

The court heard Ms Cahill and Mr Tull denied to police they were responsible for causing the injuries or had knowledge of them.

“Their potential explanations included the dog – one of their dogs – sitting on the chest of the twins, or (Ms Cahill’s daughter’s) mishandling of the child.”

Giving evidence, Ms Cahill’s mother, Donna Sweeney, told the court she came to visit the couple a few weeks after the twins were born.

“There was a horrible smell coming through as you walk up to the doorway,” she said.

“The lounge room was filthy. It had clothes everywhere, rubbish on the floor, there was a pile of dog faeces and then in the kitchen was dog faeces and a dirty floor, rubbish piled up near the bin and dishes on the table and bench.”

Ms Sweeney said she saw Ms Cahill’s nine-year-old daughter holding one of the twins and he was “dangling like ragdoll”, with no support for his head.

“(It) sounded like he was hurt, he was upset,” she said.

The court heard Ms Cahill was in the shower at the time and said she told Mr Tull to look after the boys.

However, Ms Sweeney said Mr Tull was in the laundry and she smelt marijuana.

The court heard Ms Sweeney was in the car with Ms Cahill months after the boys’ injuries were uncovered.

“We were talking about Starr and Brodie, how they were – like Starr was telling us how her and Brodie were fighting,” she said.

Ms Sweeney said Ms Cahill then told her Mr Tull would not like it if “the truth” about what happened to the twins came out.

Ms Sweeney said Ms Cahill then changed the conversation when she was asked what she meant by that.

The trial before a jury continues.

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