Inquest into the death of Michael Smedley

<1y · Male·Traumatic head injury

A five-month-old boy died from traumatic head injury. Initial medical disagreement about whether injuries were from accidental fall or non-accidental trauma delayed investigation. The child presented with extensive bruising, subdural haemorrhage, subarachnoid haemorrhage, retinal haemorrhages, and bilateral cerebral swelling. The caregiver initially provided a statement about putting the child to bed, later changing his account to describe the child falling from a change table. Medical experts eventually agreed the injuries were consistent with severe acceleration/deceleration forces incompatible with the described fall scenario. Forensic evidence of possible sexual abuse was inconclusive. The coroner referred the matter to police and DPP for potential criminal charges, identifying this as non-accidental injury (shaken baby syndrome).