Muškarac iz Novog Australija proglašen je krivim za ubojstvo malog djeteta dok je majka spavala.

A 40-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering a two-year-old boy in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, in May 2022. The conviction came after a four-week trial in the New South Wales Supreme Court, where the jury deliberated for four days before returning a guilty verdict. The defendant, whose identity has been withheld for legal reasons, was previously on bail and is now set to face sentencing on October 30. The incident occurred at the home of the child’s mother, who was reportedly asleep at the time. According to the trial, the toddler was discovered unresponsive on May 23, 2022. He was rushed to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, where he succumbed to a catastrophic brain injury two days later. Medical examinations revealed fractures to his pelvis and ribs, along with bruising on his body, including his genital area. These findings were presented as critical evidence during the trial. Testimony indicated that the accused had been in a relationship with the child’s mother and lived with her at the time of the child’s death. During the proceedings, the court heard accounts of the accused using harsh disciplinary methods, such as locking the child in a dark garage, placing him in the bathtub, and removing his bedding. These actions were described as part of a pattern of behavior that raised concerns among the prosecution. Experts were called to testify regarding the likelihood of the child sustaining such severe injuries through accidental means. A paediatric endocrinologist, Margaret Zacharin, stated that the nature of the injuries suggested intentional infliction. In contrast, the defense, led by barrister David Price, argued that there was no direct evidence linking the accused to any physical abuse of the child. Price emphasized that no one had admitted to assaulting the toddler, making the case largely circumstantial. The judge, Justice Philip Boulten, noted that the accused had been granted bail in August 2025 following a previous prison term. However, the defense requested continued bail, citing the need to manage household affairs and the presence of medical conditions affecting the accused’s health. Despite these requests, the judge ruled against granting bail, citing the gravity of the charges and the risk of non-appearance. The judge warned that the likelihood of the accused failing to appear in court was high, especially after a guilty verdict. The court heard that the child had suffered multiple incidents involving head trauma in the days leading up to his death. On the afternoon before his death, he fell down a set of slippery steps and hit his head. Later that night, he was found repeatedly hitting his head on the floor. The child’s mother testified that he appeared uninjured after these episodes and showed no signs of distress. Nevertheless, the prosecution maintained that these incidents did not account for the severity of the injuries that ultimately caused the child’s death. The accused’s attorney claimed that the presence of the child’s blood on the defendant’s T-shirt was due to his efforts to perform CPR. This argument was used to challenge the prosecution’s narrative that the injuries were inflicted intentionally. Despite these claims, the jury found the accused guilty of murder. The case highlights the complexities of determining intent in cases involving children and underscores the challenges faced by families dealing with such tragedies.