Valid Saeidi Shoeili in court charged criminal neglect after baby suffers shocking injuries ‘consistent with being thrown into wall’

An Adelaide father of five says he dropped his baby – but a court has heard the three-month-old girl suffered such shocking injuries it was like she was “thrown into a wall”.

A baby girl allegedly dropped by her father suffered serious injuries consistent with “being thrown into a wall” and has now been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a court has heard.

Father-of-five Valid Saeidi Shoeili, 34, fronted the Adelaide Magistrates Court for the first time on Friday charged with aggravated cause serious harm with intent and criminal neglect.

His three-month-old baby suffered a skull fracture, haemorrhaging in the brain and behind the eyes, and potential paralysis.

The injuries were “more consistent with high impact – such as being thrown into a wall – rather than being dropped in a straight line”, prosecution allege, which also said he did not immediately call emergency services.

On Friday, Allan Johnson, for Mr Shoeili, told the court his client “admitted” to dropping his child but said the Mawson Lakes man would “vigorously” defend the charges.

Prosecutor Matthew Dunn told Magistrate Luke Davis the seriousness of the matter “focused on the extent of the victim’s injuries”.

“The doctors say the victim had an undisplaced left-sided skull fracture,” Mr Dunn said. “There was bleeding behind the eyes (and) subdural bleeding located on the entire surface of the brain.

“The doctor has provided an opinion that the distribution of these injuries inside the brain would indicate that a significant rotational acceleration force was involved in the causation of the head injury – not simply a fall.

“The victim has been left with compression fractures to her lower spine, injuries to the eye which are so significant there are concerns that she’ll be left without vision permanently and there are concerns about paralysis noting that the victim was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a result of these injuries.

Mr Shoeili is led into court. Picture: 7NEWS

“These injuries are at the very highest end of the scale.”

Mr Shoeili, of Mawson Lakes, was arrested on Thursday after a protracted investigation.

Police allege the baby girl was admitted to hospital with severe life-threatening injuries on Sunday, October 13, and remained in hospital for six weeks where she was diagnosed with sustaining permanent brain damage.

On Friday, Mr Johnson applied for home detention bail for his client – which was opposed by Mr Dunn – and refused by Mr Davis who noted the alleged offending was “so alarming”.

Outside court, Mr Shoeili’s brother said the accused was a “family man” who “didn’t deserve this”.

He was then ushered away by his brother’s defence counsel.

Mr Shoeili was remanded in custody and will return to court in April next year.

Originally published as Valid Saeidi Shoeili in court charged criminal neglect after baby suffers shocking injuries ‘consistent with being thrown into wall’