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The mother accused of punching her baby in a pram has faced court.

The Townsville Bulletin reported the 29-year-old woman who can’t be named for legal reasons faced Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday for a committal hearing.

The court heard that the woman was walking along Eyre St, North Ward, on January 18, 2014 when she allegedly punched the crying baby several times.

A bystander that witnessed the event called the police and paramedics and the baby was taken to hospital.

Dr Mario Carangan of Townsville hospital was the only witness to be cross examined during the committal hearing. He told the court that the baby suffered there bruises and was discharged after 24 hours.

“Based on my examination … I’ve written three injuries that I suspected might be caused by a punch. In my opinion the injuries inflicted are consistent with being punched in the face,” he said.

The department of child safety has been involved in the baby’s care since the woman was released on bail in January 2014. Initially the woman was allowed supervised visits with the child, but the current arrangements are unknown.

Michael O’Dea, the defence barrister argued that the case against the woman was not strong enough to proceed to trial because it hinges on the evidence of one witness.

“He (the witness) effectively rings up 000 and all hell breaks loose because he says ‘I see a mother punching into a baby’,” he told the court.

“You can see when his statement was taken he actually couldn’t see.
“He could only see the back of the pram and he said arm movements were going in and out of the pram.

“His evidence is effectively what sets the cat among the pigeons.”

The magistrate ruled that there was enough evidence for the case to go to trial.

“What is of significance is evidence by way of statements before the court … upon which in my view a jury could draw an inference and beyond reasonable doubt that [the woman] assaulted the child in the pram,” he told the court.

“As to what the jury will make of that evidence and whether it is believed is a matter for trial.”

The accused woman abused media as she left the court, yelling and throwing a soft drink bottle and mobile phone at a cameraman.

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  • So lucky someone was there to draw attention to the woman. That poor baby, sounds like the mother has some anger issues that need dealing with, her actions towards the media just back up her violent nature. Very sad.

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  • see, if she hadn’t been acting irrational and violent while leaving……

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  • Any parent who abuses their children SHOULD NEVER have any contact with them EVER. I worked on a disabled children’s school bus and one of the children on there his mother tried to drown him cause she didn’t want him and when ever he had to go to her house (mind you court ordered him to go even after what she did) he would scream . these children didn’t ask to have this happen and they don’t do anything to deserve it so DONT do it.

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  • The poor baby.

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  • She should never be given access to her baby at all, and if she has another one it should be removed from her care.

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  • I hope this poor innocent baby is in safe hands and never subjected to such treatment again :-(
    Please keep this mother away and get her some professional help

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  • I’m glad that bystanders intervened. What would have happened to the baby otherwise?

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  • This is absolutely horrible. Way too many people abusing children that should be protecting them from the outer monsters.

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  • I hope this baby is removed from her custody permanently. She doesn’t deserve to be a parent

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  • Lke gr

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  • what a horrible person to punch a baby. – or anyone for that matter.

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  • This is just horrible i this is actually what happened. Given the reaction of the Mum after the hearing, it would appear this woman has some anger issues. I do hope the mum gets any help she needs and that the baby is given the protection it deserves.

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  • I would think the doctor’s medical examination should carry a lot of weight. If the baby had injuries to his/her face consistent with being hit, then that’s enough to either take this child away from his/her mother, or should be on a child protection register and regularly monitored.

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