Bulletin: Sandra Higgins; UK; "Independent" reporter speculates that jury's division mirrors that of the division between experts on shaken baby syndrome; " For reasons we cannot know, the jury disagreed. This is, perhaps, a reflection of disagreement in the medical arena on shaken baby syndrome."

"Amy had, the trial heard, suffered a brain injury, detached retina and retinal haemorrhaging and had seizures for five days. Doctors who treated baby Amy said her injuries were consistent with violent shaking, were non-accidental and that it was highly likely they had happened to her while in Ms Higgins's care. One leading UK child abuse expert stated that it was "a classic, textbook case" of shaken baby syndrome. SBS, a form of abusive head trauma, is normally confirmed with symptoms including subdural haemorrhaging, bleeding in the retina, and brain swelling. The jury in the trial of Ms Higgins was tasked with deciding two issues that go to the heart of the syndrome: the mechanism and the timing of the injuries. In his closing speech to the jury, Prosecutor Sean Gillane SC told the jurors they had one simple question to ask: when did the child go from normal to abnormal and what does that mean to you? Remy Farrell SC, who defended Ms Higgins, queried, however, how the prosecution could assert Amy was a perfectly normal child up to March 28 but was silent on the older injuries, including fractured ribs and fingertip bruises on her back. The defence, which argued the evidence was more suggestive of a head trauma and the possible re-activation of an old injury, said it was not contending for accidental injury. And Mr Farrell urged the jury to acquit if they couldn't say conclusively what happened and if they had any doubt that Sandra Higgins inflicted the injuries. For reasons we cannot know, the jury disagreed. This is, perhaps, a reflection of disagreement in the medical arena on shaken baby syndrome."
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/jurys-indecision-mirrors-that-of-doctors-on-shaken-baby-syndrome-31331154.html