Baby’s injuries ‘not accidental’
rossparry.co.uk/syndication Picture shows the home of 7 week old Krystal Davison whose parents Lee Davison, 28, and Jessica Hopkinson, 18 lived. The couple are charged with the murder of the seven-week-old baby girl, and have appeared at Pontefract Magistrates court charged with her murder of the tot Krystal was taken to Pinderfields Hospital on the evening of April 12 and police were called to reports of a baby being brought in with serious injuries. She died in the early hours of the next morning.
A doctor has told a jury how the injuries suffered by a seven-week-old baby before she died were most likely caused “non-accidentally.”
Dr Daniel du Plessis, consultant neuro-pathologist, told Leeds Crown Court on Monday how Kristal Davison suffered “extensive” bleeding, tears and blood clots to the brain in the days and weeks leading up to her death consistent with “trauma” to the head and “violent shaking”.
The baby’s parents, Lee Davison, 28, previously of Hemsworth, and Jessica Hopkinson, 19, deny causing or allowing the death of their daughter at their Pontefract home between March 1 and April 14 last year.
The court heard how baby Kristal suffered bleeding behind the eyes and on both sides of her brain during her short life which were indicative of “non-accidental” injuries.
Dr du Plessis told the court: “In this case my opinion is that some tears to the brain were caused by very violent shaking of the infant.
“Head injury is another cause of veins clotting up in children and for that there’s a wealth of evidence in this case.”
Dr du Plessis said there was evidence of damage to the spine and at least three episodes of bleeding in the brain, ranging from two to three weeks old to the most recent being in the 48 hours before her death.
He added: “The swollen, widely damaged brain in combination with bleeding in both eyes are classic features strongly associated with traumatic injuries in infants usually inflicted non-accidentally.”
The jury heard last week how Kristal also suffered fractures to her left leg and several ribs while in the sole care of her parents.
The trial, at Leeds Crown Court, continues
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