Father is sentenced to seven years in prison for shaking young baby to death

A 22-year-old father from Breda was sentenced to seven years in prison on Thursday for killing his seven-week-old baby. Finn H. shook the baby back and forth with force and committed violent acts on the baby's head, according to the court. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) had recommended nine years in prison.

The child's mother called the general practice center on March 29, 2023, because the baby was very cold and pale, was having trouble breathing, and did not want a bottle. The boy was then brought to the children's hospital, and it was discovered that he had suffered four broken ribs and brain injuries. He passed away two days later. The boy had no health issues on March 28.

A doctor claimed that the fatal brain injuries must have happened during the night of March 29. H. put his son to bed and was the first to take him out again. The court in Breda decided that it was proven that he perpetrated the injuries to the baby.

"I have no idea what has happened," the suspect said. He explained that he had dropped the baby by accident in the past. According to specialists, the chance of injuries happening by accident is very slim.

Tapped conversations between H. and people in his nearby surroundings showed that H. said that he was the person who killed his child. He also said that he would provide answers but did not. The court blamed him for this because many people wished for answers. The emotions were high during the court verdict.

The suspect and the woman had already had a child together. That was an easier baby, according to H. He had said earlier that the period after the second baby's birth was very stressful.

His lawyer did not believe it could be established that he was the one who ended the baby's life.