Shaken Baby Murder Cases

Clearwater Criminal Defense Attorney

Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is a kind of traumatic brain injury that occurs when an infant or small child is violently shaken. The head of a baby is heavy, and the neck muscles are weak. Shaking the baby in this manner creates a whiplash-like motion which results in injury, causing swelling, bruising and bleeding.

These injuries may lead to severe, permanent brain damage or death. The injuries caused by shaken baby syndrome include subdural hematoma (bleeding in the brain), retinal hemorrhage (bleeding in the retina), damage to the neck and spinal cord, and broken ribs and other bones.

When a child dies as a result of severe brain damage, it is the caregiver or the parents that are commonly accused of child abuse and murder. A Clearwater criminal defense attorney at The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger will provide you with the strong defense and advocacy you will need to get you through this extremely difficult situation.

Rush to Judgment: Shaken Baby Syndrome Cases

In their zealousness to solve a case and to hold someone accountable for the murder of an innocent child, the police and prosecutors sometimes make errors. They may have insufficient or faulty evidence to support their case, and hold the wrong person responsible for the baby's death. Shaken baby syndrome, though a popular cause of death played out in the media many times, is controversial, with contradictory experts opinions and insufficient scientific evidence.

From 1997 to 2005, Tim Hessinger worked in the Major Crimes Division at the State Attorney's Office and, in that capacity, prosecuted every child murder in Pinellas County. Tim is very familiar with the dynamics of these types of cases and knows where to look for potential weaknesses.

At The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger, we recognize that there may have been an incorrect diagnosis as to the cause of the child's death. Shaken baby syndrome may not have been the reason the child died. Our firm works with the appropriate medical experts in an effort to determine whether there exists a plausible, alternative cause of death.

Additionally, we will fully investigate your case, analyzing all medical records of the child, and looking to those persons who may have been in a position to cause the child's death including parents, other relatives, siblings, caregivers, and daycare providers. If you or a loved one has been charged with murder caused by shaken baby syndrome, call our office right away. We are here to protect your legal and constitutional rights.