STORY: "Father guilty of maiming infant daughter," by reporter Emily Jackson, published in the Toronto Star on July 27, 2012.
GIST: "A courtroom erupted in anger after a Toronto man was found guilty of permanently maiming his baby girl, and assaulting and attempting to choke her mother. Justice Bonnie Croll found Malcolm Ricketts, 22, guilty of five counts of violence against his girlfriend, Christina Hammond, 21, and their then-infant daughter, Heaven Hammond-Ricketts. On Jan. 21, 2010, Ricketts assaulted Hammond in her apartment during a “tug of war” fight over who would hold the baby. Heaven broke 10 ribs in the altercation when Ricketts squeezed her, Croll ruled. Weeks later, a fussy 3-month-old Heaven suffered “catastrophic” injuries after being left alone with Ricketts as he tried to quiet her. Violent shaking was the “only possible explanation” for her injuries, which included bleeding in the brain, two fractured legs and hemorrhaging retinas, Croll said. “There is no other explanation for the constellation of harm this tiny baby suffered,” the judge said. But as he was escorted from the room, Ricketts shouted, “I didn’t do anything.” Both his family and the Hammonds believe he is innocent, which they loudly proclaimed in court. Tensions escalated between the families — the Ricketts blame the Hammonds’ inconsistent testimony for the verdict — and about a dozen officers were called in to keep the peace......... Heaven remains in the care of her mother and grandmother. Ricketts, a dancer and artist, will likely appeal the verdict.""
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/1233390--father-guilty-of-maiming-infant-daughter
PUBLISHER'S NOTE:
I am monitoring this case. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments.
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/charlessmithThe 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:
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
Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.
