A couple in their 30s has been sentenced to nine and two years in prison, respectively, by the Skaraborg District Court for the severe abuse of their two-month-old son.
The infant suffered multiple fractures and brain hemorrhages, injuries that medical staff discovered when the parents sought emergency care in April.
The case centers on a series of violent incidents occurring between February and April. The parents brought the infant to the emergency department at Skaraborg Hospital on the night of April 19. They initially claimed the injuries were accidental, occurring while lifting the child or positioning him on his side.
Medical examinations quickly contradicted that version of events. Doctors identified a fractured collarbone, a tense and bulging fontanelle, and subsequent scans revealed a pattern of both new and older trauma, including broken ribs and a fractured hip. The infant exhibited extensive hemorrhaging in the eyes, brain, and spinal cord.
“Ja, alltså barnet har jag inte rört. Det menar jag med hela mitt liv,” the father said during interrogations. He suggested that dropping his mobile phone on the infant might have caused the initial injury, a claim made alongside medical testimony that found no evidence of underlying skeletal fragility or disease.
The investigation revealed that the mother was aware of the child’s deteriorating condition long before seeking help. Evidence included text messages between the mother and a friend, where she documented the infant’s symptoms—including lethargy, intense crying, and projectile vomiting. On the day they finally arrived at the hospital, she messaged that the infant’s shoulder appeared deformed and he could not lift his arm.
While the mother initially described the suspicion surrounding her partner as a “feberdröm” (fever dream) and claimed she did not want to believe he was responsible, she later admitted in questioning that she had witnessed him acting aggressively toward the child. She is convicted for failing to ensure the child received necessary care, while the father received the longer sentence for the direct acts of violence.
The legal proceedings also incorporated evidence from a previous, discontinued investigation regarding the father’s alleged abuse of an older child. Beyond the assault on his son, the father was also convicted of rape and illicit photography involving a different woman.
The infant, now in the care of a foster family, faces the possibility of long-term health consequences due to the severity of the trauma sustained during his first two months of life.
| Charge/Finding | Defendant | Sentence/Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Rape & Illicit Photography | Father | Included in total |
| Child Status | Victim | Placed in foster care |
Staff at Skaraborg Hospital acted immediately upon observing the physical signs of abuse, triggering a police investigation that utilized covert surveillance, including wiretaps, to secure the evidence necessary for conviction. The investigation involved both the physical assessment of the child and the digital correspondence of the parents.
The Skaraborg District Court ruled that returning the child to his parents would risk his health and development. The child has shown no new injuries since being removed from the home and placed in protective custody.
