While a five-month-old baby died from internal bleeding, 21-year-old Trent Owen Ngaruhe Hapuku apparently continued playing his PlayStation.
The New Zealander faces manslaughter charges after Mikara Ranui Jarius Reti died on January 11. Hapuku was left in charge of young Mikara. The baby’s mother, Jamie Reti, supposedly left the child alone with the 21-year-old while she bathed her other son and ate dinner, Stuff.co.nz reports.
Reti returned, upon which she apparently found Hapuku holding the baby and trying to play a PlayStation game. Hapuku later told police he knew he would get the blame, because he was the only one with the baby. He also said he did not know how the baby suffered those injuries.
During that 45-minute interval, it seems the baby suffered a blunt-force injury to the liver, which fractured four ribs and severed it, causing internal bleeding. According to Stuff.co.nz, police say the injury was most likely caused by it being crushed against the baby’s spine, resulting in severe pain, massive shock and loss of consciousness. The infant vomited all over Hapuku’s shoulder.
After seeing her baby’s pale face, Reti and Hapuku rushed the child to the hospital, where doctors were unable to revive the child. The autospy report says the baby died within minutes from the injuries. What’s more, the baby was also suffering from rib fractures that were estimated to be weeks old.
The baby’s mother is currently pregnant with Hapuku’s child.
Man played computer game as he held dying baby [Stuff.co.nz Thanks, Tom!]
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