Processes About Injured Babies: Fathers Acquitted

Two trials concerning injured babies ended with acquittals on Wednesday at the Regional Court of Wiener Neustadt. A 28-year-old could not be proven to have shaken his few weeks old son multiple times. A 27-year-old was also acquitted, who allegedly gave his baby a bottle that was too warm and patted him on the back. Both verdicts are not final.

Baby taken to hospital

The 28-year-old was accused of continued violence and child abduction in a jury trial. The man allegedly "repeatedly grabbed and shook his son, born at the end of December 2024, with massive force on the upper body," said the prosecutor. After a seizure on February 19, while the father was at home with the infant in Wiener Neustadt and the mother was at church, the accused called for an ambulance, and the baby was taken to the hospital. A report was filed against the parents.

Before the planned handover to a crisis foster mother, the Austrian citizen allegedly took the infant from the hospital, where he was admitted with the mother, on March 26 and helped his wife escape. According to his statements, the 28-year-old assumed that he had custody at that time. Investigations are ongoing against the mother, who is on the run with the baby and his one-and-a-half-year-old sister, for continued violence and child abduction.

Man released from custody

An expert report documented the infant's injuries. According to the expert Wolfgang Denk, a traumatic brain injury, brain hemorrhages, and fractures of various ages were identified, which are attributed to shaking - although not "with maximum energy." Three incidents were suspected. When asked by the judge who was responsible for the injuries, the 28-year-old said: "Not me, my wife 100 percent not either." The accused emphasized, "I cannot explain the injuries."

For the jury, it was clear that the baby was abused, said the judge. It could not be proven with near certainty that the 28-year-old caused the injuries. Regarding the accusation of child abduction, the offense was not fulfilled, explained the judge. The prosecution made no statement. Thus, the verdict is not legally binding. The 28-year-old was released from custody.

"I thought he was going to die"

In another trial, a 27-year-old had to answer in court for serious bodily harm because, according to the prosecution, on the morning of April 1, he allegedly administered a significantly too warm liquid to his two-month-old son in his partner's apartment in Wiener Neustadt and then patted him on the back. The Nigerian pleaded not guilty in the single-judge trial. He reported that he used water from a thermos bottle filled the day before and did not check the temperature, said the 27-year-old living in Vienna.

When the infant spat blood, his parents took him to the hospital. During the drive, he hit his son on the back several times as a panic reaction due to respiratory arrest, said the accused. "I thought he was going to die." The child suffered scalds and rib fractures. According to court information, the man was not legally acquitted of the allegations concerning the child. The 27-year-old received a diversion regarding the alleged acts against his partner.

(APA/Red)

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