Nathan Rawling inflicts several fractures on month-old baby: Court
by Keith Hunt
A man inflicted multiple injuries on a month-old baby in a
frenzied and brutal assault which left the child close to death, a
court heard today.
Nathan Rawling caused 26 fractures to ribs, fractures to both
collarbones and a “spiral” break to the right arm, it was
alleged.
Trauma to the chest punctured both lungs, leading to the baby
having a heart attack and stopping breathing.
Prosecutor John O’Higgins told a jury of six men and six women
at Maidstone Crown Court there was also “a particularly shocking
injury” to the 31-day-old baby’s genital area.
Rawling, formerly of St Gregory’s Crescent, Gravesend, denies
causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Mr O’Higgins said the baby, who cannot be identified for legal
reasons, was taken to Darent Valley Hospital on the morning of
December 1 2011.
There was no doubt, he said, the child was at the point of death
and only the skill of medical staff saved its life.
Rawling told police although he did not know how to perform CPR,
he had blown into the baby’s mouth and pushed on its chest after
noticing it had turned blue and stopped breathing.
Mr O’Higgins said it was 36-year-old Rawling’s explanation for
the baby’s chest injuries.
The broken arm was caused, he claimed, when he grabbed the baby
to restart CPR.
Rawling, who worked as an electrician for Kent County Council,
claimed the injury to the child’s genitals were caused when he
knelt on it.
“Medical experts are unanimous in rejecting this explanation,”
said Mr O’Higgins.
The prosecutor said Rawling had accepted causing the injuries in
a misguided attempt to save the baby’s life, but had since changed
his defence.
He now said he accepted the medical evidence and the only
possible explanation was that the injuries must have been inflicted
by the child’s mother.
Mr O’Higgins said: “The prosecution case is in the hours before
arriving at hospital, the baby was subjected to a frenzied, brutal
and repeated assault by Nathan Rawling.
“It could only have been done to cause really serious harm. It
may be he did try to save the baby and perform CPR, but if so it
was because only moments before he had almost killed (the
child).”
Rawling’s QC Jane Humphryes submitted the defence had not
changed.
The trial continues.
15/01/13
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