Ipswich, west Brisbane, mother accused of causing 11-month-old son’s severe brain and spine injuries
Mother charged with grievous bodily harm that left her 11-month-old son with brain and spinal cord injuries free on bail
- Mother charged with grievous bodily harm released on bail
- Police claim she inflicted brain and spinal injuries on the son
- Doctors say he will ‘almost certainly’ become permanently disabled
A mother who allegedly ‘seriously’ injured her baby boy has been released on bail, while the 11-month-old remains in hospital for a month after the alleged assault.
Queensland Police say the 29-year-old woman from Ipswich, west Brisbane, caused the baby’s horrific brain and spinal injuries, which doctors say will ‘almost certainly’ lead to permanent disability.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before a court in Brisbane on Saturday, a day after she was charged with grievous bodily harm.
Police will claim they assaulted the little boy at a Camira home in Ipswich on March 7.
The court heard the woman claim she found her son injured on the road outside their home and shouted for neighbors to help, but no one came. Courier Mail reports.
A 29-year-old mother from Ipswich (pictured) has been charged with grievous bodily harm after her son suffered severe brain and spinal cord injuries
She claimed she then picked up her son and carried him inside to call triple-0, the court heard.
Legal aid attorney Nick Douglas told the court that the mother told officers in a police interview that her son had thrown his head back when she grabbed him off the road and suspected he had fallen from a height.
However, prosecutors say the medical evidence does not support her version of events.
The 11-month-old boy began having seizures on the morning of the incident and was intubated and on a ventilator for more than a week, the court heard.
Mr Douglas told the court that the mother has visited her son in hospital every day since the alleged assault.
She is also a full-time mother of two other children, a two-year-old boy and a six-year-old daughter.
The mother spent a night behind bars after being charged with grievous bodily harm on Friday.
She appeared in Brisbane court on Saturday, where she was given strict conditional bail.
Police claim the mother (above) caused the horrific injuries that will ‘almost certainly’ lead to permanent disability
The Department of Child Safety is aware of the incident, which was reported to child protection detectives in Ipswich following the triple-zero call.
Mr Douglas told the court that the case is likely to be a long one.
“Especially with regard to the medical evidence, this is not a case that is likely to be concluded in the next 12-18 months, I think,” he said.
“These are very serious allegations, we cannot shy away from them.”
The court also heard that the woman had two outstanding charges of alleged driving under the influence of mid-range alcohol and driving with a suspended license on Australia Day.
The mother (above) was released on strict bail after appearing in Brisbane court on Saturday
Magistrate Terry Duroux claims early evidence from medical analysis suggests the mother was involved in her son’s injury.
“The mechanism of injury has to come back to[his mother],” he said.
“No medical cause has been found (for the child’s injuries)…inflicted injury remains the most likely cause.
“The child in question has suffered a serious head injury that will almost certainly result in permanent disability and may limit his life expectancy.”
The mother must live with her mother as part of her bail conditions and report to the police twice a week.
She is unable to contact her six-year-old daughter or any witness in the case and must seek permission from a child protection officer to visit her son in hospital.
She will appear before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on May 8.