Starr Light Cahill and Brodie Tull standing trial for allegedly criminally neglecting their twin boys
A Murray Bridge couple are accused of inflicting horrific injuries on their infant twin boys but claim it was either their dog or one of the mother’s daughters, a court heard.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Murray Bridge couple are accused of inflicting injuries on their infant twin boys after they were found with multiple rib fractures.
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.
“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’s mother visited the couple’s home several weeks after the twins came home and observed a very unpleasant odour.
“She observed there were dog faeces throughout the house and the house was in what might be described as a disgusting and unclean state,” Mr Foundas said.
The court heard the next time Ms Cahill’s mother came to visit she found Ms Cahill’s nine year old daughter holding one of the twins.
“The infant was crying. (The girl) appeared to be holding the child like a ragdoll with no supervision whatsoever,” Mr Foundas said.
“Ms Cahill was in another room of the house and Mr Tull was in the laundry, on the prosecution case, likely consuming cannabis.”
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.”
The trial before a jury continues.
More Coverage
Originally published as Starr Light Cahill and Brodie Tull standing trial for allegedly criminally neglecting their twin boys
The ultimate cod-back: Prestigious native fish returning to SA waters
A ‘magnificent and prestigious’ native fish once on the brink of extinction is making a powerful comeback in SA waterways.
‘Couldn’t live like that anymore’: Refugee family’s fight for SA freedom
Phan Nguyen became the youngest clinical professor in his community through hard work and sacrifice, but says it pales in comparison to what his parents endured to escape Vietnam when he was a child.