Friday, 12 October 2007

Baby on at-risk register 'killed by punch from drug addict father'

Full Story:
http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0400.htm
A 10-month old baby was found dead from massive internal injuries on Christmas Eve despite being placed on the "at risk" register, a court heard today.
Neo Craig, who lived with his drug-using parents, tested positive for cocaine at birth but the results were twice ignored by doctors, the Old Bailey was told.
Social workers failed to detect any bruising or injuries on a visit two months before his death because he was covered in baby powder.
The infant died from a punch to the stomach that caused fatal internal bleeding, the court heard.
As he lay dead the baby's mother Sharma Dookhooah sent her own mother a text message telling her not to come over as she was making the Christmas dinner.
Dookhooah, 25, and her boyfriend James Craig, 26, of Rush Green Gardens, Romford, Essex, today both admitted causing or allowing the death of a child.
Craig admits lashing out with a "clenched fist" at his girlfriend while she was holding Neo during a row on 24 December last year.
"Sharma Dookhooah moved slightly and the blow impacted on Neo," said Richard Whittam, prosecuting.
"James Craig does not accept that the blow was aimed at Neo."
The baby was "in some physical distress" following the blow and some time later his parents, both crack cocaine users, realised he was not breathing.

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