Lethbridge father who caused 'permanent and grave' injuries to infant daughter gets 7 years in prison
WARNING: This story contains details of child abuse
WARNING: This story contains details of child abuse.
A Lethbridge, Alta. father who assaulted his infant daughter causing "permanent and grave" injuries, has been handed a seven-year prison term by a judge who described the abuse suffered by the child as "horrific."
The father cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the baby, who was born Dec. 5, 2022.
The infant was six weeks old when, on Jan. 18, 2023, police discovered her in medical distress at her home.
Throughout her decision, Justice Kristin Ailsby referred to the infant as "Baby Girl" who she described as a "wee and vulnerable victim."
"Baby Girl, in her short eight months, has been radically deprived of the most basic kinds of interactions and experiences that healthy children typically have in our community," said Ailsby.
The sentence came before Ailsby as a joint submission from defence lawyer Darcy Shurtz and prosecutors Suzanne Kendall and Drew Gillespie after the 53-year-old pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and failing to provide the necessaries of life in June.
Two charges related to sexual assault were withdrawn after doctors found "no evidence" of those crimes, according to an agreed statement of facts presented to Ailsby as part of a guilty plea.
The allegations of sexual abuse "grabbed the public's attention like a chokehold," said Ailsby. But the judge said it was important to point out there was no evidence to support that allegation and that the Crown "unequivocally withdrew the charges."
The baby's mother pleaded guilty to failing to provide the necessaries of life. She will be sentenced later this summer.
After spending three months in hospital, the infant was released in April. Her prognosis is "uncertain" according to doctors.
The child may have cerebral palsy as a result of her brain injuries and might be permanently blind in her left eye.
"Baby Girl will likely never live a normal life and will almost certainly require constant care because her father permanently and gravely injured her," said Ailsby.
The baby now lives with a foster mother who, in a victim impact statement, wrote that the girl has daily medical and physiotherapy appointments.
Roommate reported abuse
The abuse came to light after the couple's roommate reported witnessing the father assault the newborn.
He'd tried to get the mother to call police but she feared the baby would be taken away from her.
The man "cared about and advocated for a vulnerable child," said Ailsby who praised his actions.
"His advocacy ultimately saved Baby Girl."
On Jan. 18, police showed up at the home to find the baby in medical distress. She had trouble breathing, a fixed gaze, twitching hand and an abrasion on her face.
The infant was airlifted to Calgary to the Alberta Children's Hospital, where doctors discovered the she'd suffered "abusive head trauma." At the time, it was unclear if the baby would live.
Spinal damage
The baby's spinal ligaments were also severely injured and she suffered haemorrhages in both eyes, with a detached and torn retina in her left eye.
The parents' roommate told investigators he'd witnessed the father slapping the baby in the face and head, bouncing her off of the sofa and bed and pushing her head and chest into the couch and bed.
Investigators were also told the father put his hand over the infant's mouth and shook her.
The father told detectives he would get "frustrated" with his baby and once dropped her on a mattress out of frustration. He also said he had bounced her on the sofa and mattress, calling it "playing basketball with her."
Daily medical appointments
The father — who had a difficult upbringing, spending his youth in 19 foster homes — was given the opportunity to speak in court during his guilty plea.
He told the court he's "thought about this a lot."
"I hope my daughter develops as normal as possible and leads a happy life, a safe life, a healthy life," he told the judge.
In attempting to understand the father's background, Ailsby quoted American abolitionist Frederick Douglass who said:
"It is easier to raise strong children than to repair broken men."
"That feels exceptionally true today," said the judge.
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