A forensic paediatrician told the Ballarat Magistrates' Court a baby's skull fracture was unlikely to have been caused by shaking.
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Arron Lang, accused of causing severe injuries to his three-day-old son in July 2020, returned to court on Wednesday for a committal mention.
Ballarat Health Services consulting paediatrician Dr Lakshman Doddamani and the Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service's Dr Trusha Brys were cross-examined in the hearing.
Dr Doddamani gave evidence relating to his final report, submitted to police, which included all of the tests undertaken when the child was re-admitted to hospital on July 31, 2020.
A registrar at the hospital's paediatric unit had contacted him to examine the child, who had what appeared to be bruising on his back and bloodshot eyes.
Dr Doddomani phoned the VFPMS, who told him which tests should be undertaken - the VFPMS is a consulting service for child and baby injuries which may be non-accidental or suspicious, run from the Royal Children's Hospital.
A CT scan, x-rays, bone scan, and ophthalmology test were undertaken, and while a skull fracture was revealed, other injuries - including a possible fractured wrist and rib - were deemed inconclusive.
The marks on the child's back could have been bruising, or naturally occurring "Mongolian spots", while questions remain over other bruising.
Dr Doddamani said each of the injuries could occur as a normal part of birth, but taken as "a constellation of symptoms", they were suspicious.
"I feel there might have been some degree of trauma there," he said.
Dr Brys, cross-examined by defence lawyer Amy Brennan, said a skull fracture could occur, rarely, during birth, and repeatedly ruled out shaking as a cause.
She explained her findings were based on reports from other doctors and photos, and she did not examine the baby herself.
"Shaking alone does not cause skull fractures," she told the court, noting other symptoms associated with the act, like retinal damage, were not present.
"There is no physical evidence of shaking, all other information is subjective.
"In an immobile child, any bruising is concerning."
She noted that a skull fracture is still a serious injury.
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The hearing was stood down until September, when evidence from another doctor, the police informant, and the child's mother will be heard.
Lang was arrested in August 2020 and faces multiple charges, including recklessly causing serious injury, and remains on bail.
He was supported by his mother in court.
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