Monday, March 16, 2015

Video game-playing dad found guilty of causing brain damage to 18-month-old son (United Kingdom)

UNNAMED DAD.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/call-of-duty-dad-found-guilty-of-causing-baby-son-brain-damage-1-7153701

Call of Duty dad found guilty of causing baby son brain damage
published 16:25
Thursday 12 March 2015

A father has been found guilty of causing brain damage to his baby son after his screams interrupted him playing Call of Duty.

He was found unanimously guilty by a jury of inflicting grievously bodily harm on his 18-month-old son in November 2012.

But his former partner, the baby’s mother, was unanimously found not guilty of causing cruelty by not seeking medical attention.

Her friends and family cheered in the public gallery as the jury’s verdict was given at Sheffield Crown Court this afternoon following a three week trial.

Neither of the parents, from the Dearne Valley area, can be named for legal reasons.

The court had previously heard the woman was sent to get the latest Call of Duty game Black Ops II as it was released at midnight. Her partner was left to care for their baby son while drinking Stella and playing Black Ops I.

The mother said when she returned, she checked on the baby who was asleep. She said it wasn’t until the next day she noticed her baby was going ‘purply-blue’ in the mouth.

The baby suffered a number of seizures at Barnsley Hospital on November 13, 2012, and was transferred to Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Scans showed bleeding and swelling on the brain and bleeding to the spine.

The prosecution said the injuries were caused by the father shaking the baby.

In March 2013, the man rang police to say he had shaken the child and repeated the admission in a police interview.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on March 20.