The family witnesses
85.The evidence of both Mrs N and Mrs O corroborated the evidence of the parents in respect of their family life and the way they were adjusting to the arrival of a second child in the family. Both gave similar descriptions of the parents’ characters, and of their relationships with their children and each other. Those descriptions were consistent with the evidence of the parents themselves and with the documentary evidence. 86.Mrs O’s evidence is of particular significance because the mother and both children were with her on the afternoon of 22 April, a time period of key relevance in terms of the causation of S’s injuries. I will deal with this evidence later. It was clear and unchallenged, and I am satisfied it is reliable.
- HER HONOUR JUDGE MADELEINE REARDON :
- Background
- The findings sought and the positions of the parties
- The law
- The evidence
- The medical evidence
- The parents’ evidence
- The family witnesses
- Analysis of the evidence
- The timeline: S’s birth to his admission to hospital on 23 April 2022
- Inherent probabilities
- An accident involving T
- Co-sleeping
- The evidence for and against a non-accidental injury
- My findings: the causation of S’s injuries
- The allegation of neglect
- Summary of outcome
