Baby is dying

Vienna: Baby is dying after shaking trauma

The parents made contradictory statements about the cause of the two-month-old baby's injuries (symbolic image).

(Bild: thinkstockphotos.de (Symbolbild))

Drama in Vienna-Brigittenau: As the "Krone" has learned, the police are investigating the parents of an infant. They are suspected of having severely abused their newborn. Contradictory statements led to the parents' arrest on Friday. They initially claimed that the five-year-old sister had thrown herself on the baby.

The baby is currently in the intensive care unit of a hospital with a shaking trauma. Doctors there are currently fighting for his life. Shortly before Christmas, Viennese officials took over the investigation against the 26-year-old father and the 22-year-old mother of the baby, who was only two months old at the time. 

Contradictory statements from the parents
The parents brought the baby to hospital in a critical condition with severe head injuries. The first suspicion was raised by the doctors when the parents made contradictory statements about the cause of the injuries, which is why the police were alerted and an investigation was launched. During the interrogation, the parents initially stated that the five-year-old sister had fallen over the baby, which is said to have caused the serious head injuries. However, an examination of the baby revealed that older injuries - such as rib fractures - were also detectable and that the severity of the latest injuries could not be explained by the alleged fall. 

Suspicion of severe abuse
The parents' three other children have since been placed in the care of child and youth welfare services, as the parents are suspected of having severely abused the child. Based on the latest findings of the investigation, the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office ordered the arrest of the young parents on Friday.

During initial questioning, the parents stated that the five-year-old sister had fallen over the infant, which is said to have caused the injuries (symbolic image)

(Bild: APA/Helmut Fohringer)

Mother insists her sister assaulted her
It was not possible to question the father before he was taken to prison. The 22-year-old mother continued to justify herself to the criminal investigation department by claiming that her sister had fallen on the baby. Further investigations, in particular into whether violence was also used against the other children, are ongoing.