A father bashed his infant daughter to death in 2012 and, despite only being sentenced yesterday, is already able to apply for immediate parole.
Rick Cataldo was sentenced to eight years’ jail in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday for the manslaughter of his daughter Lily Rain Cataldo when she was less than two months old.
In April 2012, Lily suffered multiple skull fractures, four rib fractures and a spiral fracture to her right arm about seven to 10 days before her death, the court heard.
Cataldo has already served almost three years and 10 months in jail after his partner, Michelle Catherine Leask, told investigators she walked in to find him “whacking” her daughter repeatedly on the back after she heard Lily screaming.
Cataldo said it was because Lily had trouble breathing and convinced Leask not to take her to hospital, saying it would be “selfish” as it was another family member’s birthday.
Lily gradually slept more and more, had a rattle in her chest and became more distressed when she was touched. Between a week and 10 days later, she was found unresponsive while sleeping on the bed with her dad and was unable to be resuscitated at the hospital.
In her sentencing, Justice Debra Mullins took the fact Cataldo didn’t have a criminal history and his long battle with anxiety and low mood into consideration.
“Subsequent to your daughter’s death, you made a number of threats to commit suicide,” she said.
“You have been treated for panic attacks, anxiety and depression during your time in custody.”
Justice Mullins also agreed his psychiatrist’s assessment that his risk of reoffending was low and would be minimal if he stayed sober.
