By: Darlene Leger

Darlene Leger — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 10:08:05 +0000

I am the grandmother of the child involved. The court has chosen not to speak for him; so I must, as he is in fact the true victim in this case. Over two and a half years ago, at fifteen months-old, my grandson suffered a skull fracture in the home of the accused, which resulted in his near death due to severe brain bleeding, and an ensuing partial craniectomy that removed nearly half of his skull to save his life. His survival remained undetermined for weeks afterwards. The craniectomy also caused several other complications that resulted in several surgeries, many months in hospital, and severe lifelong disabilities – including partial blindness. His doctors at the Alberta Children’s Hospital later indicated that he had been shaken, which exacerbated the effects of the skull fracture.
Only the accused, her two year-old son, and my grandson were present at the time of the incident. Both children were certainly too young to tell anyone what happened. At fifteen months, my grandson was barely walking, never mind speaking. The accused stated in two previous police interviews that although not present in the room with the children at the time of the incident, she believed her son had pushed my grandson, causing the skull fracture. This is quite a different version of events than those given in the final interview a year later.
The police investigation was long and arduous, continuing for more than a year, and resulting in charges of aggravated assault being laid over a year ago against the accused, just before the final aforementioned interrogation and subsequent confession. It must also be stated that the toll exacted on my daughter, son-in-law, older grandson, and other family members over all this time has been nearly insurmountable.
By completely discrediting the police involvement, focusing almost entirely on the accused, and disregarding the medical evidence which was deemed to be inconclusive, Judge Dinkle has set an alarming precedent in favour of those who claim to be unjustly treated ‘victims’ of the police, after being charged with harming the babies and young children in their care. Consistent denial of the charges, or requests to remain silent, could easily result in their exoneration, despite the fact that they might well be guilty as charged. They, and not the innocent children, will then be considered the victims. Their ‘sacred legal rights’ will become more important than the safety of the children who too often cannot speak for themselves. So where are the children’s sacred rights? Indeed, where is the justice?

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By: Darlene Leger