Daniel John Ridgers, 25, faces Hobart Magistrates Court for first mention of murder charge

A 25-year-old man has faced a Hobart court on an upgraded charge of murder after the death of a 10-month-old baby. What happened in court.

Daniel Ridgers, a young Warrane man is in custody after allegedly causing grievous bodily harm to a 10-month-old baby. Picture: Facebook

Latest: A 25-year-old man has faced a Hobart court on an upgraded charge after the death of a 10-month-old baby.

Daniel John Ridgers spoke only to confirm his name as he appeared in the dock before Deputy Chief Magistrate Michael Daly on Monday morning.

Ridgers is facing a single charge of murder, after his charge of causing grievous bodily harm was upgraded by police, following the death of the infant.

Mr Ridgers’ lawyer asked for an adjournment without entering a plea.

Mr Daly Remanded Mr Ridgers in custody until his next court appearance on January 5 next year.

During his first appearance in an after-hours court session on Sunday evening – while still on the causing grievous bodily harm charge – the court was told it was alleged Mr Ridgers’ had harmed the baby by “violently shaking him and dropping him into his cot” on November 30.

Earlier: A Warrane man charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a baby who later died in hospital has had his charge upgraded to murder.

Police on Sunday charged 25-year-old Daniel John Ridgers, of Warrane, after he allegedly caused GBH to the 10-month-old baby.

Tasmania Police in a statement on Monday morning announced the baby had died, after it presented to Royal Hobart Hospital on Friday with critical injuries.

Mr Ridgers appeared in an after hours session in Hobart Magistrates Court on Sunday.

There, the court heard Mr Ridgers allegedly harmed the baby “by violently shaking him and dropping him into his cot”, on November 30.

Tasmania Police on Monday said Mr Ridgers’ charge had since been upgraded to one of murder.

He is due to reappear in court today.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and loved ones of the baby,” police said.

Monday, 4 December initial: The young Tasmanian baby left with critical injuries after allegedly being shaken has died, police say.

Tasmania Police in a statement early on Monday morning announced that the 10-month-old baby had passed away, days after it presented to the Royal Hobart Hospital with critical injuries.

“Our condolences are with the family and loved ones of the baby,” a police spokesperson said.

They said the police investigation was ongoing.

On Sunday, Daniel John Ridgers, the man accused of causing grievous bodily harm to the baby, appeared in court charged with causing GBH.

He has not entered a plea and is due to reappear in court this morning.

Daniel John Ridgers: Young man in court over alleged baby shaking

Sunday, 3 December: young Warrane man is in custody after allegedly causing grievous bodily harm to a 10-month-old baby.

Daniel John Ridgers, 25, appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court in an out-of-hours session on Sunday.

The court heard Mr Ridgers allegedly harmed the baby “by violently shaking him and dropping him into his cot” on November 30 at Warrane.

Mr Ridgers did not enter a plea to the singular charge of causing grievous bodily harm, before a justice of the peace, and did not apply for bail.

He will reappear before a magistrate on Monday morning.

Earlier, Tasmania Police said it was continuing an “ongoing investigation into a serious assault” on the child, with officers from the Criminal Investigation Branch, forensics and uniform police.

Police advised the baby presented at the Royal Hobart Hospital in the early hours of Friday morning, and remained there in a critical condition.

Police were called to the hospital four hours later, with Mr Ridgers later taken into custody and charged over the weekend.

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