CPS reviews ‘shaken baby syndrome’ guidelines

Written by Adelle on Wed, 19/01/2011 – 10:06

 

Head injuries alone are unlikely to be enough to convict people suspected of hurting children, like in ‘shaken baby syndrome’ cases according to new CPS guidelines.

The review comes after several high profile cases where parents and carers were convicted, then found to be innocent.

Ben Butler served four months of an 18-month sentence, sharing a cell with a sex offender, after being found guilty of harming his baby daughter – then his conviction was overturned by the High Court.

Babysitter Susanne Holdsworth served three years in jail over the death of her neighbour’s son Kyle Fisher. She was accused of banging his head against a wooden banister, then was released when the Court of Appeal said the conviction was unsafe.

Dr Irene Scheimberg from London’s Barts Hospital and Dr Martha Cohen from Sheffield Children’s Hospital said the ‘triad’ of symptoms including the swelling of the brain, bleeding in the brain and oxygen deficiency do not only occur through vigorous shaking.

And this could cast doubts on the case of childminder Keran Henderson who is serving three years for murdering 11-month-old Maeve Sheppard – she claims the baby had a fit while she was changing his nappy.

One of the first ‘shaken baby syndrome’ cases to make the papers was that of British au pair Louise Woodward who was jailed for killing eight month-old Matthew Eappen while working in the United States. The sentence was later reduced to involuntary manslaughter and she was released.

Source:

http://www.itvbabysign.com/community/news/jan2011/cps-reviews-%E2%80%98shaken-baby-syndrome%E2%80%99-guidelines