GIST: "There are too many unanswered questions about what caused catastrophic injuries to a 3-month-old baby to send her father to jail, his lawyers say. The Crown has not proven baby Heaven Hammond-Ricketts’ injuries were caused by a human hand, and even if they were, it has not proven the father, Malcolm Ricketts, 22, was the cause, a judge was told Thursday. As Stanford University radiology professor Patrick Barnes reported, when reviewing Heaven’s records, it cannot be assumed her caretakers were responsible for her injuries, defence lawyer Haiyun Wong argued in her final submissions. But prosecutor Laura Bird said medical evidence from several doctors — including child abuse expert Michelle Shouldice at the Hospital for Sick Children — shows Heaven was the victim of trauma inflicted on at least two occasions in 2010. “She was violently shaken, resulting in a brain injury that immediately caused her to be lifeless,” Bird said. And Ricketts’ reported hair-trigger temper and evidence indicating he abused the child’s mother, Christina Hammond, point to him as the perpetrator, she told Ontario Superior Court Justice Bonnie Croll.........The judge has reserved her decision until July 27."
The entire story can be found at:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/1229122--child-abuse-trial-father-s-role-in-maiming-baby-not-proved-defence-says
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/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
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.
