BATTLE CREEK (WKZO-AM) — An international debate over “Shaken Baby Syndrome” came to a Calhoun County Courtroom on Friday in the cases of two men charged with the deaths of their girlfriend’s infants.
It’s also called ‘abusive head trauma’, which some also contend isn’t accurate because it infers that it was caused by abuse.
Doctors say that if there is enough of the right kind of evidence, they can generally tell if an infant has been abused to death. Telltale signs can include bleeding on the brain and behind the eyes and evidence on the body of bruising or healing usually adds up to a finding of abuse.
Attorneys for Leo Ackley and Anthony Ball both made motions challenging that, citing new medical findings that there can been natural and genetic causes for many of those symptoms.
Both Ackley and Ball are facing long prison terms if convicted, because their girlfriend’s babies died while in their care.
Ackley is being retried after an appeal. Ball is being tried for the first time.
Circuit Judge John Hallacy denied motions from the defense lawyers in both cases to suppress the evidence.
Instead the defense attorneys in both cases will be allowed to challenge the science behind the evidence in front of their juries when the two men go to trial in October.
