A Townsville mum has been accused of punching a crying baby.
According to the Townsville Bulletin, the 29-year-old woman who can’t be named for legal reasons faced Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday for a committal hearing.
The court heard that the woman was walking along Eyre St, North Ward, on January 18, 2014 when she allegedly punched the crying baby several times.
A bystander that witnessed the event called the police and paramedics and the baby was taken to hospital.
Dr Mario Carangan of Townsville hospital was the only witness to be cross examined during the committal hearing. He told the court that the baby suffered there bruises and was discharged after 24 hours.
“Based on my examination … I’ve written three injuries that I suspected might be caused by a punch. In my opinion the injuries inflicted are consistent with being punched in the face,” he said.
The magistrate ruled that there was enough evidence for the case to go to trial.
“What is of significance is evidence by way of statements before the court … upon which in my view a jury could draw an inference and beyond reasonable doubt that [the woman] assaulted the child in the pram,” he told the court.
“As to what the jury will make of that evidence and whether it is believed is a matter for trial.”
The department of child safety has been involved in the baby’s care since the woman was released on bail in January 2014. Initially the woman was allowed supervised visits with the child, but the current arrangements are unknown.
Michael O’Dea, the defence barrister argued that the case against the woman was not strong enough to proceed to trial because it hinges on the evidence of one witness.
“He (the witness) effectively rings up 000 and all hell breaks loose because he says ‘I see a mother punching into a baby’,” he told the court.
“You can see when his statement was taken he actually couldn’t see.
“He could only see the back of the pram and he said arm movements were going in and out of the pram.
“His evidence is effectively what sets the cat among the pigeons.”
Magistrate Osborne allowed the woman to remain on bail on the condition that she not travel to Palm Island.
The accused woman clashed with media as she left the court, yelling abuse and throwing a soft drink bottle and mobile phone at a cameraman.
The case will be heard at Townsville District Court at a later date.
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