Hong Kong man who shook baby so violently child can no longer speak or eat on his own jailed for more than 4 years
- Leung Shek-ho, husband of the baby’s carer, panicked and shook the child a few times when he started wheezing and appeared unconscious
- The 13-month-old child became quadriplegic and developed signs of cerebral palsy and intellectual disability secondary to traumatic brain injury
A father of three has been jailed for four years and two months for shaking a 13-month-old baby so violently that the child can no longer speak, sit without support or eat on his own.
Prosecutors said the boy, named only as X, was developing normally in accordance with his age – he could walk unaided and say his first meaningful word before he turned one.
But his development came to a halt following a tragic incident that took place soon after he returned to his carer’s home from a play date with other children on October 22, 2016.
The High Court on Wednesday heard the carer’s husband, Leung Shek-ho, had guessed that the boy was hungry when he started crying while she was bathing their own 14-month-old daughter, but decided against feeding him out of concern that he might vomit when it was his turn to shower.
Leung recalled that X continued crying while he gave the boy a shower and that he suddenly started wheezing and appeared unconscious, with his eyes rolled back.
The 27-year-old panicked and shook X a few times, hoping to resuscitate him, but to no avail. The baby also showed no response when he was given asthma medication – previously prescribed by a doctor – and would not drink his milk.
Leung decided to take X to Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei. The baby was found to be suffering from respiratory failure and retinal haemorrhages in both eyes, but there were no external injuries.