Child abuse – baby suffered from shaken baby syndrome: parents now in custody

The father and mother of a child were arrested in Vienna-Brigittenau on Friday for serious child abuse. The girl was taken to hospital shortly before Christmas in critical condition with severe shaken baby syndrome.

Conflicting information about injuries
The parents gave conflicting information and that is why the police were called. On Saturday, the Vienna Public Prosecutor’s Office requested pre-trial detention, spokeswoman Nina Bussek explained on Friday. The parents were taken into custody on Sunday.

There are no new developments regarding the condition of the newborn. The newborn girl is still fighting for her life in the hospital. The investigation, which the State Criminal Investigation Department took over on December 20, is being conducted on suspicion of attempted murder, as police spokesman Philipp Haßlinger emphasized. The 26-year-old man and the woman (22) have been in custody since Friday.

Older rib fractures detected
In the initial interviews, the parents stated that the five-year-old sister had fallen over the child, which may have caused the child’s injuries. But further medical examination revealed that the two-month-old baby also had older injuries. In addition, the severity of the injuries was not compatible with the alleged fall, as the researchers from the Gradinger group of the LKA Vienna Center East department determined. According to police spokesperson Haßlinger, the child’s older rib fractures were also discovered.

Based on these new findings, the public prosecutor ordered the arrest of the parents, which was carried out by the criminal investigation department. It was not possible to question the Syrian father until he was taken to prison. The 22-year-old mother, also from Syria, stood by her statement that her sister’s fall was responsible for the child’s injuries. She was then also taken to a prison.

Three more children under the care of MA 11
The Magistrate Department 11 (MA 11) cared for the couple’s three other children and took them to a crisis center. One of the children was placed in a crisis foster home. Since no relatives have been found, the children are still with authorities. According to MA-11 spokeswoman Ingrid Pöschmann, the children are doing well given the circumstances. The case was ‘gripping’ and cooperation with the police went well. The family was previously unknown to MA 11. The investigation, especially into possible violence against the other children, is still ongoing.