Doctor tells court of 'significant force' used on Wolverhampton baby
An 11-week-old baby who was found with injuries at a Black Country home is likely to have had his arm 'forcibly bent or twisted' and have been squeezed with 'significant force', a jury has been told.
The child was taken to hospital after it was found he had suffered fractures to his arm and several ribs.
A social worker raised the alarm following a visit to the family home in Merridale Street West, Wolverhampton, in August 2015, the city's crown court heard.
The boy's parents, Luke Davis, aged 20, of Merridale Street, Wolverhampton, and Cylyna Fedynych, 19, of Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, deny causing or allowing serious harm to a child.
Dr Joanna Fairhurst, a consultant paediatric consultant called in by West Midlands Police to assess the child's injuries, revealed the baby suffered fractures to its ribs on at least two separate occasions.
She also told the jury the child would have been in significant pain and distress after suffering the injuries and said she did not believe they could have been caused by the mother tumbling down the stairs with him in her arms, as was reported to a social worker.
The trial had earlier heard how the injuries were categorised as 'non-accidental' by doctors and that they had not been explained 'to any acceptable level' by his parents.
Dr Fairhurst said: "It is likely his arm was gripped and forcibly bent and or twisted.
"We can't quantify the force but we do know the force required would have been significantly greater than reasonable for a carer looking after a baby."
The expert said that on examining the baby's injuries she found fractures to the ribs which were beginning to heal as well as fresher injuries.
Dr Fairhurst said: "There is no doubt the ribs were injured on at least two separate occasions. He might have been injured more than twice but it was at least two separate occasions."
She said it was likely the baby would have 'screamed out' on receiving such injuries.
She added: "It would have been a very painful injury. The baby would have been extremely distressed for a good few minutes after the fracture occurred."
Fedynych told police she had winded her son 'too hard' and may have cuddled him too tightly but Dr Fairhust dismissed the notion the injuries to the baby's ribs were a result of 'rough handling'. She said: "The force required (to cause the injuries) is very significant, not just a gentle squeeze."
The trial continues.
