No sign that childminder shook baby, says expert
An expert witness in the prosecution of a childminder convicted of killing a baby girl said last night that it was "incredibly unlikely" the infant was shaken to death.
Neuropathologist Waney Squier said there was "nothing to indicate" 11-month-old Maeve Sheppard died from "shaken-baby syndrome".
The consultant's comments cast further doubt on the manslaughter conviction and jailing of mother-of-two Keran Henderson.
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Keran Henderson, who was jailed for three years over the toddler's death
Earlier this week, two jurors said medical evidence at the trial was too complicated to interpret safely and they feared there had been a miscarriage of justice.
Yesterday Mrs Henderson, 43, who was jailed for three years in November for shaking Maeve to death, said: "I want to be home for Christmas.
"All I want is for my family to be reunited.
"I miss my two boys, it's very tough for them."
The comments will boost Iain Henderson's campaign to have his wife released. Dr Squier, who gave evidence at Reading Crown Court, was the first person to examine Maeve's brain.
She said: "My concern is that this baby had brain damage from a previous injury.
"I told the court I believe this baby had both old and recent traumatic brain injury.
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Maeve Sheppard died after being shaken violently, according to medical evidence
"She had suffered an impact injury to her head before the day she died and then something happened on the day she died.
"What I cannot say is whether those injuries were accidental or inflicted. But it's incredibly unlikely it was shaken-baby syndrome. There is absolutely nothing to indicate she was shaken.
"The features are far more in keeping with the baby having an older injury. A bruise on her head supported this. This might have been caused by a fall, but it could have been inflicted. I do not know.
"I am very concerned if the jury made their decision on this basis."
She believes it was too much to expect a jury of laymen to grasp complex medical evidence.
Dr Squier, from the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, said: "I spend all my life reading papers and studying my field of expertise.
"If I have to put that much work in to keep informed then how can 12 people off the street have a hope in hell of understanding?"
Maeve's mother Ruth Sheppard last night declined to talk about the case.
