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SIMCOE – A Southwestern Ontario man has pleaded guilty to criminal negligence that caused the death of a three-month-old baby.
Gerrod Richard Young, now 27, was initially charged with second-degree murder in the case that dates back to 2021.
In court, he admitted to an agreed set of facts that stated he had been caring for the baby when he “accidentally knocked (the child’s) head off the door, causing a small bump.”
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Because the baby seemed normal after the incident, Young said he didn’t take the child to receive any medical treatment.
A couple of days later, Young was in charge of the child again when the baby suddenly began gasping for air and stopped breathing.
Young called 911 and the baby was revived and stabilized at Norfolk General Hospital in Simcoe.
Later, the baby was taken to McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, where it was put on life support for a time before dying of severe brain damage and a retinal hemorrhage.
A postmortem exam determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma, possibly by shaking or striking a surface.
Two other experts weighed in on the case, agreeing there was blunt force trauma to the baby but saying the brain injury could have been caused by the earlier strike to the head.
In the statement, Young said he intended no harm but agreed he was careless or reckless in the handling of the fragile infant.
A pre-sentence report will be prepared and Young will be sentenced in Simcoe court, likely toward the end of October.
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