Prosecutors at the Verviers Criminal Court on Thursday called for a 40-month prison term for a father who allegedly assaulted his baby daughter.
The infant, born in early February, was admitted to a local hospital on 21 April 2021. Medical staff quickly suspected shaken baby syndrome.
Despite an initial lack of evidence against the father, an investigation revealed the family’s daily life, according to the prosecution: the father, unemployed, spent his days playing console games and admitted to frequently being violent towards his partner.
On the day of the incident, 20 April, the mother left the child with her partner while she went to the bakery. “I was out for 30 minutes at most," she recalled "He called me multiple times. The baby was screaming, and he warned that something serious would happen if I didn’t return soon.”
The accused denied beating the baby. “I was unable to handle the child," he said. "She was screaming. I left her in her bed and then threw her into her chair.”
"I've never hurt little girls," he claimed.
It was only the day after the incident, when the baby was unable to swallow and her lips had changed colour, that her parents took her to hospital.
"Since that day, I left with the children," said the mother, who hopes that the little girl will not suffer any after-effects.
Judgment will be handed down on 6 September.
