Mum avoids jail after bashing her baby daughter with a spoon
A South Australian mother has avoided jail despite pleading guilty to hitting her eight-month-old daughter with a spoon, leaving her with purple bruising.
Lorien Norman, 26, faced a maximum of 13 years behind bars, but was given a 21-month suspended sentence with a two-year good behaviour bond and a $500 fine after the District Court judge said baby Evie's injuries were “likely to resolve”.
In October, Ms Norman rang emergency services at 4am threatening to throw the baby off her apartment balcony, according to court documents.
On arriving, police observed bruising to Evie's face and took the mother and daughter to hospital.
The documents said the mother initially lied to police and said the little girl had fallen off a play gym, but a doctor determined otherwise.
Evie was found to have injuries consistent with physical assault and had "at least eight separate blows to her face and body."
The doctor said some of the injuries appeared to be caused by the "black slotted spoon" seized from the kitchen at the address.
Judge Costello noted Ms Norman had a "troubled adolescence" and had been in and out of an Adelaide clinic with a bordeline personality disorder.
“You are clearly remorseful for your actions," the judge said.
Evie's father Shane McMahon vented his anger at the decision on social media, saying he has "no faith in the system."
“I’d be still in jail if I did this to a child," he wrote on Facebook.
