Beskidy Forum

The parents of a newborn baby left with horrific injuries and fractures all over her body walked free from court today, despite admitting child cruelty charges.

The unnamed infant was just 23 days old when doctors discovered she had suffered multiple breaks to her legs, knees, ribs, right wrist and right hip.

MRI scans showed the baby girl had also sustained a skull haemorrhage and trauma to her brain tissue.

But her parents were spared jail at Bristol Crown Court today, despite pleading guilty to child cruelty on the basis of neglect – because a judge blamed social services for the ordeal.

The court heard that a social worker had warned her bosses that the couple were incapable of caring for their child, but her fears were ignored.

Judge David Ticehurst sentenced the youngster’s father and mother to two-year community orders each, last December.

The child’s father is in his twenties and her mother is in her thirties, but their names were not released to protect the baby.

Judge Ticehurst told the father: ‘You clearly were far too young and not able to look after your child.

‘That child suffered considerable neglect due to your inability to care for her. But in my view you and your partner were let down by the social services, who have a duty to provide for you.

‘In my judgement it would be quite wrong to impose anything other than a community order, for you to get the help and support you need.’

Bristol Crown Court had previously heard that social worker Sara Matty had seen the baby’s mother at her home in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and noted she had learning difficulties.

The father also had learning difficulties, and it was noted that he appeared to be ‘a bit clumsy’ with the baby and ‘inappropriate and childlike’ in his handling of her.

Ms Matty recommended that the baby be cared for in a mother and baby unit to ensure her welfare – but this was not followed up by North Somerset Council.

The baby remained at home with her parents, who received support from health care providers during the week, and help from the father’s parents at weekends.
[...]

The council said in a statement: ‘This family received extensive support and guidance from North Somerset Council as we attempted to keep them all together.

‘Unfortunately this high level of support did not prevent these events from happening, and we are deeply sorry for that.’

SILVER LAKE, Calif. (KTLA) — The woman found dead Thursday morning near a freeway off-ramp in Silver Lake has been identified as a mother of two who disappeared a month ago.
Bree’Anna Guzman, 22, was last seen around 7:30 p.m. on December 26 leaving her Humboldt Street home.
Guzman’s mother Darlene Duran told the Canyon News that Bree’Anna said her boyfriend would be picking her up to go to the drugstore to buy cough drops.
Normally Guzman’s boyfriend would text her when he arrived at her home, so Duran said her daughter went outside to wait for him.
Police say the young mother never returned home and never reported to her job at the Glendale Galleria.
Caltrans workers found Guzman’s body about 9 a.m. near the Riverside Drive on-ramp to the 2 Freeway, near where it meets the 5 Freeway.
The body was obscured by bushes and partially covered in debris.
The woman was found naked from the waist down and wearing only one sock, a witness told KTLA.
Police officials said the poor condition of the body would make an immediate identification impossible, but family members said clothing, a tattoo and braces on the victim’s teeth leave little doubt that the Guzman was the woman found dead in the bushes.
Bree’Anna had two young daughters ages 15 months and 5 years old.
Friends and family gathered Thursday night for a candlelight vigil outside the Guzman home in Lincoln Heights.
"We just want to know why," said an anguished Celina Ararcon, Guzman’s best friend. "Why would somebody even bother her?
"She was somebody’s best friend. Somebody’s daughter. Somebody’s mother."
[...]