Father Denies Charges Over Newborn's Injuries
A man from the Illawarra region is set to face a jury trial over allegations he seriously assaulted his infant son, leaving the newborn with multiple bone fractures. The father, who is in his thirties, has formally entered pleas of not guilty to a series of domestic violence-related charges.
Charges Follow Hospital Admission
The case began in January 2025 when the Illawarra Child Abuse Squad launched an investigation. This followed a report concerning harm to the baby, who had been admitted to a children's hospital. Police arrested the man and laid multiple charges.
Court documents presented to Wollongong Local Court detailed the infant's injuries, which reportedly included several fractures to his ribs and other described "bony injuries". According to police allegations, these injuries were caused when the man squeezed the baby's ribs and violently shook him.
Not Guilty Pleas Entered in Court
During a court appearance in December 2025, the father pleaded not guilty to the following charges:
- Causing grievous bodily harm with intent (domestic violence related)
- Reckless grievous bodily harm (domestic violence related)
- Six counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm
The Crown prosecution withdrew five additional charges during the proceedings. The case was subsequently committed for trial in the New South Wales District Court, with an arraignment scheduled for February 2026.
Lengthy Wait for Trial on Conditional Bail
The Wollongong Local Court heard that the actual trial is not expected to take place until 2027, indicating a significant wait for the legal process to conclude. After his initial arrest, the accused was held in custody on remand. However, he has since been granted bail and is currently on conditional liberty while awaiting his trial date.
The matter continues to progress through the justice system as both the prosecution and defence prepare their cases for the upcoming District Court trial.
