Six months after the trial against the parents of a baby who died of shaken baby syndrome at just seven weeks old in October 2022, the Supreme Court (OGH) on Wednesday reduced the penalties for the father and tightened them for the mother. The defense attorneys had advocated lighter sentences for both parents, and the public prosecutor’s office had advocated higher penalties. The mother now legally has to spend 18 instead of 16 years in prison, the father ten instead of twelve years.
The parents were found guilty at the Salzburg Regional Court in August 2023. The now 21-year-old mother received 16 years of unconditional imprisonment for murder and continued violence. The woman is said to have shaken her son Elias seven to ten times on October 22, 2022 and also slapped him in the face so that he would stop screaming. The child suffered severe brain injuries.
A few hours later the baby was lying lifeless in bed and the father called the emergency services. Initially it was assumed that it was a sudden infant death syndrome. But the autopsy revealed a different picture. The boy died due to external violence. According to the prosecution, his mother had repeatedly violated him in the weeks before the crime. The woman, who was apparently completely overwhelmed by motherhood, had also been diagnosed with a personality disorder.
The 26-year-old father was sentenced to twelve years’ unconditional imprisonment for continued violence and for bodily harm resulting in death – in both cases due to omission. As the woman’s boyfriend at the time, he is said to have noticed the crimes, but did nothing to protect his son. At that time, the parents lodged an appeal against the verdicts.
Six months after the trial against the parents of a baby who died of shaken baby syndrome at just seven weeks old in October 2022, the Supreme Court (OGH) on Wednesday reduced the penalties for the father and tightened them for the mother. The defense attorneys had advocated lighter sentences for both parents, and the public prosecutor’s office had advocated higher penalties. The mother now legally has to spend 18 instead of 16 years in prison, the father ten instead of twelve years.
Severe brain injuries caused by shaken baby trauma
The parents were found guilty at the Salzburg Regional Court in August 2023. The now 21-year-old mother received 16 years of unconditional imprisonment for murder and continued violence. The woman is said to have shaken and slapped her son seven to ten times in the city of Salzburg on October 22, 2022 so that he would stop screaming. The child suffered severe brain injuries.
Baby died due to external violence
A few hours later the baby was lying lifeless in bed and the father called the emergency services. Initially it was assumed that it was a sudden infant death syndrome. But the autopsy revealed a different picture. The boy died due to external violence. According to the prosecution, his mother had repeatedly violated him in the weeks before the crime. The woman, who was apparently completely overwhelmed by motherhood, had also been diagnosed with a personality disorder.
The 26-year-old father was sentenced to twelve years’ unconditional imprisonment for continued violence and for bodily harm resulting in death – in both cases due to omission. As the woman’s boyfriend at the time, he is said to have noticed the crimes, but did nothing to protect his son. At that time, the parents lodged an appeal against the verdicts.
(Those: APA)
2024-02-22 01:42:04
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