Dad admits he obstructed breathing of 8-month-old son to stop him from crying (Invercargill, New Zealand)

Dad AARON CHARLES BROOKS has admitted to obstucting the breathing of his 8-month-old son to stop him from crying. Dad says he did it because he was "annoyed" when the baby's crying woke him up. The judge said that dad was "not responsible or mature enough to be a father"--and then sentenced him 30 hours' community work and 12 months' supervision. (Like that little wrist slap is going to make make any difference...)

http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/court/3094111/Too-immature-to-have-children

Too immature to have children'
The Southland Times
Last updated 05:00 25/11/2009

An Invercargill man was deemed not responsible or mature enough to be a father when he appeared in the Invercargill District Court yesterday, after he admitted obstructing his eight-month-old son's breathing to stop him crying.

Aaron Charles Brookes, 21, labourer, appeared before Judge Dominic Flatley charged with assaulting his eight-month-old son on September 18 at Moeraki.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Glen McMurdo said Brookes was "annoyed" when woken by his son's crying late one night.

In an effort to stop the crying, Brookes held his hand over the baby's mouth for 20 seconds, making it hard for him to breathe, he said.

Judge Flatley said Brookes was not responsible or mature enough to have a child.

"That's what babies do, they wake up crying in the middle of the night," he said. "What would you have done if you had killed or injured your child?"

Judge Flatley sentenced Brookes to 30 hours' community work and 12 months' supervision.