Qld hospital baby death inquest opens
A newborn baby had a pot dropped near his head just days before he died from head injuries at a Brisbane hospital, a coronial inquest has heard.
The inquest, which began in Brisbane on Monday, will determine why a seven-week-old boy died at Mater Children's Hospital five years ago.
The court heard hospital staff contacted police after the baby, who cannot be identified, died from what staff determined to be non-accidental head injuries on August 25, 2007.
Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Terry Frilingos told the inquest there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone over the baby's death.
Det Sgt Frilingos said the police investigation had initially centred on the baby's parents.
He said police set up a crime scene at the parents' home at Forest Lake, in Brisbane's southwest, and examined the family's financial records, looking for a motive.
Police determined the family had a lot of debt, but could not link it to the boy's injuries.
"At the end of those inquiries, there was insufficient (evidence) to commence a prosecution," he said.
The child protection officer also raised an allegation that a pot landed near the baby's head at a child care centre.
Jellybean Child Care Centre director Cindy Alvarez confirmed the incident occurred two days before the baby died.
Ms Alvarez told the inquest the baby was lying on a cushion on the floor when another child, who was just beginning to walk, stumbled and dropped a plastic pot she was holding.
"I heard a bang and obviously I looked up from feeding the baby that I was feeding and the pot was on the cushion beside (the baby)," she said.
"We had a look over him and there was no mark or anything.
"I didn't see the pot hit him."
The inquest, before acting state coroner Christine Clements, continues.
