"Matchim had denied that he hurt his daughter, even though the Crown presented videotape of a police interview in which he admitted to shaking the girl, although not violently.
Court was told that the girl, who was three and a half months old at the time, has sustained brain damage that is probably permanent and which will require ongoing treatment.
Justice Wayne Dymond rejected Matchim's defence, which included a suggestion that the girl's mother, Kate Coombs, was actually responsible for the harm that came to August."
CBC NEWS;
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"A St. John's man accused of shaking his own baby was taken to a cell Tuesday after he was found guilty of aggravated assault," the CBC News story published earlier today begins, under the heading, "St. John's man found guilty in baby-shaking trial: Colin Matchim was found guilty Tuesday of aggravated assault against his baby daughter."
"Colin Matchim, 25, was charged in 2009 after his daughter, August, was brought to hospital with what proved to be serious injuries," the story continues.
"Matchim had denied that he hurt his daughter, even though the Crown presented videotape of a police interview in which he admitted to shaking the girl, although not violently.
Court was told that the girl, who was three and a half months old at the time, has sustained brain damage that is probably permanent and which will require ongoing treatment.
Justice Wayne Dymond rejected Matchim's defence, which included a suggestion that the girl's mother, Kate Coombs, was actually responsible for the harm that came to August.
Court had been presented with the transcript of an emotional texting exchange between Matchim and Coombs in March 2009 after their daughter was brought to hospital.
During the exchange, Coombs said she was too angry to speak to Matchim and that she did not want to be near him.
"just know that it was an accident ok she was holding her breath and she wouldnt let go and i panniked," Matchim typed.
Following the exchange, Matchim went to the police and told investigators what happened. Matchim's lawyer later fought having that tape admitted."
The story can be found at:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2011/05/31/nl-matchim-verdict-baby-shaken-531.html
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith
Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:
http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.com;