Dwayne Lindsay, 34, has been charged with murdering his partner’s six-month-old son, Chayse Dearing, while she popped down to the shops.
Chayse was found with bruising around his neck, trauma to his head and genitalia, and a bump on his head – all injuries Lindsay claims were caused by being spooked by a spider.
Lindsay told his partner of three months Michelle Dearing that he jolted, which caused Chayse to roll off the bed and hit his head on a wall heater, the court heard.
Forensic paediatrician Geetika Badkar told the committal hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court the injuries Chayse received were widespread and possibly a result of being strangled and shaken.
Chayse was found covered in bruises by emergency staff on June 26, 2016 and his life support was switched off just two days later.
Ms Dearing told Dr Badkar she and Lindsay had smoked ice with friends in the loungeroom hours before she left the group, and Chayse, to go shopping.
Dr Badkar also told the court Chayse had low levels of methylamphetamine traces in his urine, but she was “unable to say how that entered Chayse’s body”.
Child protection services received a report of concern about Chayse based on transient living and drug use in April 2016, court documents allege. The report never reached an investigative stage.
Talking to the court, Dr Badkar revealed Chayse had widespread and recent bruising across his body.
“That in itself is extremely significant in terms of timing – there may have been more than one event,” she said.
“There’s clearly blunt force trauma that’s occurred, including on his head and genital area, which is extremely concerning in an infant.”
The pattern of bruising around his neck also indicated possible strangulation, she said.
The hearing continues.
