Police in Barcelona are investigating a new theory in a severe child abuse case. They have requested forensic experts to examine photographs of a six-week-old baby's stools. This aims to determine if severe constipation caused the infant's anal injuries. This new line of inquiry comes instead of sexual assault, according to reports from El Periódico.
New Evidence Challenges Sexual Assault Claim
The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's police force, submitted supplementary findings to the court. These findings support a key argument from the parents' defence team. The parents have been in provisional prison since 20 March. Previously, paediatric and forensic teams at Vall d'Hebron Hospital, a major medical centre in Barcelona, classified the baby's anal fissures. They deemed these injuries consistent with sexual assault. The six-week-old baby has since been discharged from hospital. Authorities have placed the infant with a foster family for protection and care.
The new police investigation delves deeper into the family's home environment. An extensive review of the couple's mobile devices found no digital evidence of sexual assault. Instead, the police report documents numerous internet searches by the mother. She was actively attempting to understand her son's medical condition. Additionally, she maintained constant communication with a doctor cousin. She consulted him regularly about the infant's health. The defence presents this consistent concern as proof of her maternal care. This also suggests a lack of malicious intent.
Father's Conduct Under Scrutiny
However, the police findings do highlight the father's behaviour. His own family and he describe him as 'brute and not very agile,' El Periódico reported. The report includes revealing statements. The father's brother told Mossos d'Esquadra that he was 'brute who, when he puts his mobile on the table, throws it.' Key witnesses reinforce a new hypothesis. They suggest the baby's general physical injuries, including a fractured femur, might stem from severe negligence and aggressive handling. A woman who shared a hospital room with the family reported the father violently shaking the cot. She also stated he gave the baby cold water in a bottle abruptly. Furthermore, she claimed he covered the baby's mouth to silence his cries.
Broader Community Concerns
This high-profile case has drawn significant attention across Barcelona. It underscores the critical importance of child protection services within the city and Catalonia. The alleged abuse of such a vulnerable infant, a six-week-old baby, raises profound concerns within the community. Residents often express worry about child safety and welfare. This is particularly true in cases involving severe injury. The ongoing legal proceedings will determine the extent of responsibility for the baby's injuries. They will also significantly shape the future care and well-being of the child. This investigation highlights the complexities inherent in child abuse cases. It also demonstrates the challenges authorities face in definitively determining the specific causes of injuries. The initial forensic findings of sexual assault were deeply concerning. However, new evidence now prompts a re-evaluation. It suggests alternative explanations for some of the baby's injuries.
Legal Proceedings and Future Steps
Meanwhile, the Audiencia de Barcelona will decide whether to maintain or revoke the parents' pre-trial detention. The court is preparing for a decisive phase of medical testimonies. The prosecution maintains that the infant suffered old injuries. This suggests continuous abuse. The paediatrician who treated the baby warned about sustained violence. This could leave the child with severe neurological and physiological sequelae. Specialists from four hospitals will provide statements. The family visited these centres. Sant Pau Hospital then referred the case to Vall d'Hebron after detecting the fractured femur. The definitive forensic report on the submitted photographs will be crucial. It will either confirm or dismiss the charge of sexual assault.
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Originally published by Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life. Read original article.
