Parents, 21 and 22, who abused newborn baby before he died jailed for eight years each

Parents, 21 and 22, who abused newborn baby before he died leaving him with injuries including fractured leg that would have caused him to cry out in pain are jailed for eight years each

  • Newborn of Marina Smyth and Michael Osborne died in Kent of natural causes 
  • But an examination revealed there were injuries to his head, penis, and leg
  • Tibia was most likely broken by pulling, twisting or swinging him by the foot
  • Both denied abusing the child and blamed each other during police questioning 

Smyth (pictured outside Maidstone Crown Court) and her partner abused their newborn

Abusive parents who fractured their newborn’s leg and bruised his head have been jailed for a total of 16 years.

Marina Smyth, 21, and Michael Osborne, 22, inflicted injuries on Bailey Smyth-Osborne when he was just 19 days old, that surfaced after he died of natural causes.

The youngster suffered a broken tibia most likely caused by pulling, twisting or swinging him by his foot. 

They also caused bruising to his penis and head.

Medical experts exposed the abuse in an examination after police and ambulance crews attended the family’s Tonbridge home in Kent to find Bailey had died of pneumonia, a respiratory virus infection and sepsis.

Both parents denied abusing Bailey, but Maidstone Crown Court heard none of the injuries could have been self-inflicted.

Kent Police’s DC Alex Hayter said: ‘Although the baby tragically died from natural causes it was subsequently discovered that he had suffered a number of serious, non-accidental injuries in the days prior to his death.

Michael Osborne, pictured, and Marina Smyth abused their newborn, fracturing his leg and bruising his genitals and head

Michael Osborne, and Marina Smyth (pictured) abused their newborn, fracturing his leg and bruising his genitals and head

Michael Osborne, left, and Marina Smyth, right, abused their newborn Bailey, fracturing his leg as well as bruising his penis and head

The parents were sentenced to eight years in prison at Maidstone Crown Court (pictured) after medical experts exposed the abuse following the infant's death by natural causes 

The parents were sentenced to eight years in prison at Maidstone Crown Court (pictured) after medical experts exposed the abuse following the infant’s death by natural causes 

‘Both Marina Smyth and Michael Osborne accepted it could only have been them who caused these injuries and yet both denied inflicting them and blamed the other.

‘They denied any knowledge of how the injuries were caused or that they were aware the child was in danger of harm.

‘Of course both parents would have suffered huge distress as a result of the death. But it is also clear that neither have given a true account of their child’s last few days.’

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