Adam Bruns; South Dakota; Shaken Baby Syndrome; Accused of killing his 3-month-old son, he has been acquitted of all charges. During the trial, Bruns said he thought Levi was choking, so he quickly picked him up and tipped him upside down to clear his airway. Five minutes later, according to Bruns, Levi turned pale, and his eyes rolled to the back of his head, leading Bruns to run him to a nearby hospital. In a closing statement, Rensch told the jury the state failed to meet its burden to prove Bruns' guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, calling his client's presumption of innocence "a suit of armor." Rensch recounted extensive testimony by medical experts called by both the state and the defense. Rensch told the jury Levi's medical issues could have started before he was born or when Levi fell from a couch a few weeks earlier, and recurrent brain bleeds could cause vomiting and other issues. He also criticized the state's child-abuse experts, saying they immediately blame the child's last caretaker when they can't explain a child's condition. "The child-abuse people say, 'No, that's consistent with abuse.' Therefore, they say it's got to be abuse," Rensch said. "The have to prove that it has to be. They can't just prove that it could be." Rensch mentioned a number of other diagnoses purported by his witnesses, including a lack of oxygen and seizures. Rensch also criticized the tactics of Special Agent Dave Stephan, of the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, to whom Bruns said he shook Levi six to eight times. Stephan allegedly told Bruns incorrectly that the doctors said shaking was the only explanation for Levi's injuries, and Stephan also admitted to lying to Bruns to implant the idea in his head, according to Rensch. "Why would it be appropriate for any law enforcement officer to try to implant something in a young man's mind who is in the middle of a stressful situation?" Rensch said. "Just because (Bruns) said what he said during this interrogation, indoctrination, whatever you want to call it, it doesn't mean he murdered his son.'"

STORY: "Gregory man accused of killing infant acquitted of all charges," by reporter Jake Shama, published by The Daily Republic  on November 9, 2016.
 

PHOTO CAPTION: "Adam Bruns, left, his father, Ronald Bruns, center, and his attorney, Tim Rensch, right, walk out of the Gregory County Courthouse on Wednesday in Burke after Bruns was acquitted of the murder of his 3-month-old son, Levi." 

GIST: "A Gregory County jury found a man accused of killing his infant not guilty on all charges Wednesday. Adam Bruns, 24, of Gregory, was acquitted by a jury Wednesday afternoon after nearly seven hours of deliberation at the Gregory County Courthouse in Burke.........The charges were filed against Bruns for the death of his 3-month-old son, Levi, more than two years ago. Bruns was accused of shaking Levi on Feb. 25, 2014, after he vomited while sitting in a swing in Bruns' home. The boy died five days later.........The trial opened with jury selection on Oct. 24 and 25. Attorneys on both sides called in numerous witnesses to discuss medical issues—namely brain swelling, retinal hemorrhaging and subdural hematomas, among others—while also questioning the validity of statements made by Bruns in which he admitted to shaking the boy. During the trial, Bruns said he thought Levi was choking, so he quickly picked him up and tipped him upside down to clear his airway. Five minutes later, according to Bruns, Levi turned pale, and his eyes rolled to the back of his head, leading Bruns to run him to a nearby hospital. In a closing statement, Rensch told the jury the state failed to meet its burden to prove Bruns' guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, calling his client's presumption of innocence "a suit of armor." Rensch recounted extensive testimony by medical experts called by both the state and the defense. Rensch told the jury Levi's medical issues could have started before he was born or when Levi fell from a couch a few weeks earlier, and recurrent brain bleeds could cause vomiting and other issues. He also criticized the state's child-abuse experts, saying they immediately blame the child's last caretaker when they can't explain a child's condition. "The child-abuse people say, 'No, that's consistent with abuse.' Therefore, they say it's got to be abuse," Rensch said. "The have to prove that it has to be. They can't just prove that it could be." Rensch mentioned a number of other diagnoses purported by his witnesses, including a lack of oxygen and seizures. Rensch also criticized the tactics of Special Agent Dave Stephan, of the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, to whom Bruns said he shook Levi six to eight times. Stephan allegedly told Bruns incorrectly that the doctors said shaking was the only explanation for Levi's injuries, and Stephan also admitted to lying to Bruns to implant the idea in his head, according to Rensch. "Why would it be appropriate for any law enforcement officer to try to implant something in a young man's mind who is in the middle of a stressful situation?" Rensch said. "Just because (Bruns) said what he said during this interrogation, indoctrination, whatever you want to call it, it doesn't mean he murdered his son.

The entire story can be found at:

http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/4156044-gregory-man-accused-killing-infant-acquitted-all-charges

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:  I am monitoring this case/issue. 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.