A court in Asti, Italy, sentenced a young mother to two years imprisonment for causing a severe brain injury to her newborn son. The woman, originally from Hungary, shook the baby to calm it down, leading to a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome. The sentence was issued in an abbreviated trial procedure by Judge Silvia Dunn. The case concerns an incident from December 2023.

Sentence for Shaken Baby Syndrome

The court in Asti sentenced a young mother to two years imprisonment for causing severe injuries to her ten-day-old son. The child was diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome.

Course of the December 2023 Incident

The incident occurred on the night of December 6, 2023 in the town of Castello D'Annone. The mother, attempting to calm the crying baby after feeding, shook it, which led to serious injuries.

Diagnosis and Response by Services

The child was found in a state of lethargy by staff of the "Il Mughetto" community. After being taken to the hospital, doctors diagnosed a brain injury characteristic of shaken baby syndrome.

Court Proceedings and Defense

The case was conducted in an abbreviated trial procedure before Judge Silvia Dunn. In her defense, the mother claimed she was not aware of the consequences of her actions and did not notice anything concerning after feeding.

A court in Asti, Italy, has issued a sentence sentencing a young mother to two years imprisonment for causing a severe brain injury to her ten-day-old son. The case, which shocked the local community, dates back to December 2023. On the night of December 5-6, a woman from Hungary fed the baby and then, trying to calm it, shook it. The next morning, staff of the "Il Mughetto" community in Castello D'Annone found the infant in a state of lethargy and called for help. Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a serious form of child abuse, recognized in medicine since the 1970s. The injury mechanism involves violent acceleration and deceleration of the head, leading to brain damage that can result in permanent disability, blindness, or death. Public awareness about the dangers of shaking infants is the subject of educational campaigns in many countries. The child was immediately taken to the hospital, where neurosurgical and ophthalmological examinations unequivocally showed injuries typical of shaken baby syndrome. This diagnosis, confirmed by experts, became key evidence in the trial. The proceedings took place before the court in Asti in an abbreviated trial procedure, and the case was heard by Judge Silvia Dunn. In her defense, as reconstructed by the media, the mother said: „"Questa notte intorno alle 4 gli ho dato da mangiare. Si è fatto allattare senza problemi. Sembrava tutto a posto. Non mi sono accorta di nulla. Non capisco che cosa abbia".” (That night around four, I fed him. He nursed without any problems. Everything seemed fine. I didn't notice anything. I don't understand what happened.) — H.M. Despite her declaration of a lack of awareness, the court deemed her actions intentional and dangerous, leading to serious harm to the child's health. The issued sentence closes a tragic case that highlights the catastrophic consequences of desperate, though likely not ill-intentioned, actions by caregivers exhausted by a baby's crying. The case received wide resonance in Italian media, sparking discussion about the pressures of parenthood, the isolation of young mothers, and the need for support and education in newborn care. The prosecution and defense agreed to resolve the case via the abbreviated trial procedure, which accelerated the conclusion of the trial. The convicted mother, whose identity remains partially protected by the initials H.M., will serve the designated prison sentence.

Mentioned People

  • Silvia Dunn — Judge of the court in Asti who issued the sentence in the case.
  • H.M. — Convicted mother originally from Hungary, whose identity is protected by initials.