Toddler hospitalized with burns, bruises and METH in his urine as mom and BF, who is also tot's uncle, charged
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA: A two-year-old boy was found allegedly submerged in boiling water before traces of meth were found in his urine, following which his mother and uncle were arrested, a court was told. Emma Jade Short, 34, who has been accused of criminal negligence, appeared at Elizabeth Magistrates Court, Adelaide, on Monday, August 16. Rodney David Clough, 40, appeared at the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court for the same charge, but did not apply for bail. Clough is both the baby's uncle and Short's boyfriend.
The toddler was rushed to a hospital earlier this month after the incident. Short allegedly took the unconscious boy to Blair Athol Medical Clinic on August 8. The toddler suffered serious burns and bruises after staying at nearby hotel the Comfort Inn Manhattan. Forensic pediatricians confirmed that the toddler's injuries suggested that he had been submerged in boiling water.
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Short told police that her son had accidentally turned on a sink tap and the moment she noticed steam pouring our of the sink, she immediately turned on the cold water, the Adelaide Advertiser reported. According to forensic paediatricians, the bruises on the boy's neck suggested someone grabbed his shirt.
According to prosecutors, traces of methamphetamine were found in the child's system. An investigation is now being conducted to determine if he suffered any brain injuries "due to a lack of oxygen as a result of being submerged in water," the court was told.
In a formal interview with police, Short said her son was injured while in Clough's care. She claimed she had gone out leaving the pair at home, and returned to find a "panicked" Clough with her son unconscious son on the bed. Short's lawyer, Vageli Dimou, sought home-detention bail arguing that her second account of the story was "truthful". "She says she was confused at the situation and upset, and she was, in essence, protecting herself due to the nature of whatever this relationship is with the co-accused," he said.
"When she is interviewed on the second occasion with police, she says she gives her truthful account of what occurred and that she was not aware of what happened to the child," he added. "If she had been aware she would not have left him in the care of (Mr Clough). She wants to know what has happened to her child – what appears to have happened repeatedly to her child – causing these injuries."
Short was considered 'flight risk' and hence denied bail. She had allegedly discussed fleeing the state on a bus to NSW with Clough. Clough had even booked a ticket, the court was told. Short will be told about the outcome of her bail submission later this month. Clough, on the other hand, will remain in custody until his next hearing in December.