Hello!

30 Comments

A 10-month-old baby is likely to have died by being shaken and thrown at the wall or floor, with the little girl suffering the types of head injuries ‘normally only seen after a car accident’, an inquest has heard.

The Daily Mail reports, Chloe Murphy died in December 2010, two days after she had been dropped off at the home of babysitter Ketapat Jenkins in Kensington near Melbourne’s CBD.

The babysitter was charged with child homicide but found not guilty by a jury in 2014.

A panel of nine medical experts, testifying in the Coroners Court of Victoria on Monday at an inquest into Chloe’s death, say it’s most probable her injuries were non-accidental and caused by at least three acts, including twisting to her arm, ‘rotational force’ such as shaking and a head impact.

Chloe’s parents were ‘shocked’ when Ms Jenkins was acquitted in March 2014, breaking down in court when  the ‘not guilty’ verdict was read at the end of the five week trial.

Chloe was found to be unresponsive and in respiratory distress when her parents returned and rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, where it was discovered she had a significant brain injury as well as a fractured skull and arm, and eye haemorrhages.

Surgeons operated on Chloe, but she could not be saved, dying two days later on December 5, 2010.

Dr Maryanne Lobo said a fall could have explained some, if not all, of Chloe’s injuries, but it was unlikely.

‘If it was a complex fall it should have been known by the carer,’ she said.

Some of Chloe’s symptoms would have been noticeable immediately after the trauma that caused her severe injuries, the experts said.

At trial, Ms Jenkins was accused of deliberately assaulting Chloe while the girl’s parents went out.

The defence told the trial there was no evidence the babysitter had attacked the baby, and suggested Chloe’s injuries were most likely sustained in a fall.

Ms Jenkins is due to give evidence to the inquest on Tuesday, and the lead police investigator and the doctor who treated the baby girl are also expected to take the stand.

The hearing will aim to determine the circumstances that led to Chloe’s death.

Coroner Hawkins said it was not her role to apportion blame.

RIP baby girl. We hope justice is served for you.

Share your comments below.

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.
  • Do hope justice prevails in this case – too many get off scott free and shouldn’t. They also should not ever have children or be in charge of them again.

    Reply

  • Rest in the arms of the Lord sweet Chloe.
    And I pray to the Lord the person that did this will be locked up for good.

    Reply

  • This is distressing and so sad.

    Reply

  • Wow, how very sad for her parents and extended family. I think justice was not achieved and needed to be.

    Reply

  • All l have to say is how did the Baby sitter get away with this horrible crime against this poor Innocent little girl. I am dumb founded.!!!!! This child Deserves Justice

    Reply

  • That is just disgusting! It’s a sick, sick world we are living in. Reading that article just made me feel ill. How could someone look at a poor innocent child and want to do them harm like that?

    Reply

  • Sickening she would have done it. I hope she gets locked up

    Reply

  • This is a terrible case – we may never know who is to blame, but I hope whoever it is feels very, very guilty.

    Reply

  • RIP beautiful girl. I hope justice comes through for your sake xx

    Reply

  • I feel so so sorry for a beautiful baby and her parents. And babysitter is definitely guilty and should be in prison for life!

    Reply

  • This is incredible!! I can’t believe that the baby sitter was found not guilty & I believe she is responsible in some way & since the experts said some of Chloe’s symptoms would have been noticeable immediately after the trauma that caused her severe injuries, they should have been noticed by the sitter (that’s if she didn’t cause them herself) & as she got no medical treatment for the child she should have been found guilty & sent to jail.

    Reply

  • My heart goes out to you both

    Reply

  • wow! that poor kid. i hope they sort this out, that is sad to hear and that poor kid suffered.

    Reply

  • Another awful story !! I hope & pray that justice will be done.

    Reply

  • This story is truly heartbreaking. There must be an outcome. I don’t understand. This cannot go unexplained. RIP Chloe.

    Reply

Post a comment
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your comment and join MoM:

You May Like

Loading…

Looks like this may be blocked by your browser or content filtering.

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join