A Tasmanian coroner has delivered scathing remarks about a man who killed his girlfriend’s baby, describing him as a “fully grown ‘man’” who was meant to be looking after the child.
Coroner Simon Cooper made the comments in findings recently released into the death of a 10-month-old Hobart boy, who died from catastrophic brain injuries in December 2023.
Daniel John Ridgers, then 26, inflicted what Cooper called “massive, unsurvivable injuries” on the infant while caring for him as the boy’s mother worked.
The baby weighed just 10 kilograms and had been alive for only 320 days.
“Mr Ridgers was a fully grown ‘man’ who was supposed to be looking after [the boy] while his mother was at work,” Cooper said.
The coroner outlined how Ridgers lied to police, doctors and the child’s mother about what had happened – “all the while sending text messages and photographs to another woman”.
“Eventually, he told the truth about violently shaking [the baby], thrusting his finger into his mouth (the autopsy showed XY had a torn palate) and throwing him into his cot,” Cooper said.
“Mr Ridgers blamed the fact that he had had a stressful day, had been diagnosed with ADHD and suffered bullying as child, for killing a 10 month old baby.”
Ridgers pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in prison, after initially being charged with murder.
The coroner made no further recommendations, saying he was bound by legislation that prevents findings inconsistent with criminal proceedings.
“The circumstances surrounding [this] shocking death are not such that require me to make any comments or recommendations,” he said.
“I convey my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of [the boy].”
