A Heerlen father was acquitted Tuesday by the court in Maastricht of molesting his baby. Two years had been demanded. The man denied that he had done anything to his baby daughter.
The girl, who is doing fine two years after an assault, was admitted to Maastricht hospital on Feb. 23 as a 14-week-old baby. She had serious physical injuries. The internist, Professor Henk Bilo, diagnosed the baby with fluid accumulations and blood in the brain. As well as two bruised ribs and bleeding in both retinas. The injuries could have been the result of an accident or inflicted by someone.
Prof. Bilo could not accurately determine the exact time of the injury. Because the father was alone with his daughter before she was picked up by ambulance , suspicion fell on him. Homicide due to shaken baby syndrome was charged against him. The sentence was two years in prison, with 12 months suspended.
Attack
The parents stated that "an episode of sudden behavioral change" was witnessed by them in the preceding weeks. The first time when she 'bumped' her head against the father's head after giving her a bottle, when the father wanted her to burp. The family doctor had told them that nothing had been wrong. Later she would have had another such seizure in the presence of the mother.
The court finds proof that the serious injury to the baby was caused by human actions, but does not find conclusive proof that the accused father is guilty. There is no evidence in the file for a serious incident that was not reported. The Heerlen man was therefore acquitted of attempted manslaughter and aggravated assault.
