ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
Volcano erupts in White Island, New Zealand
Watch 0:27

Volcano erupts in White Island, New Zealand

{headline}

{headline}

Man who crushed toddler to death with car seat is jailed

Man who crushed toddler to death with car seat is jailed

BIRTH SHOCK: Young Melbourne model has SURPRISE BABY on bathroom floor

BIRTH SHOCK: Young Melbourne model has SURPRISE BABY on bathroom floor

Mum sees 'ghost baby' cuddling her boy on baby monitor

Mum sees 'ghost baby' cuddling her boy on baby monitor

Anti-vaxxer's baby died from asphyxiation while co-sleeping and not vaccinations

Anti-vaxxer's baby died from asphyxiation while co-sleeping and not vaccinations

{headline}

{headline}

Baby taken away from her parents was the start of 22-year fight

Baby taken away from her parents was the start of 22-year fight

Man believes dead baby found in his mother's freezer is his sister

Man believes dead baby found in his mother's freezer is his sister

Age 63 and I’ve got EIGHT babies

Age 63 and I’ve got EIGHT babies

{headline}

{headline}

Standing as tall as a parking metre, this aspiring comedian has the last laugh

Standing as tall as a parking metre, this aspiring comedian has the last laugh

50-year-old Mum hits back at strangers who assume she's a grandma

50-year-old Mum hits back at strangers who assume she's a grandma

Car bursts into FLAMES in epic gender reveal FAIL

Car bursts into FLAMES in epic gender reveal FAIL

Woman Who Can’t Smile Becomes Disability Rights Advocate

Woman Who Can’t Smile Becomes Disability Rights Advocate

My hands were like claws

My hands were like claws

Meghan Markle FINALLY reveals the due date of her royal baby

Meghan Markle FINALLY reveals the due date of her royal baby

Giving birth gave me PTSD

Giving birth gave me PTSD

  1. Home
  2. Real Life

Father jailed for shaking baby so hard it has been left severely disabled

The innocent baby is now being kept artificially alive - by Amber Wemyss
  • 22 Jul 2019
Father jailed for shaking baby so hard it has been left severely disabled

A South Australian man has been sentenced to four years in prison after he 'snapped' and shook his baby last year.

When interviewed by police, Brandon Lee Harris, 22, admitted to shaking his son twice for about to or three seconds.

The incident occurred in May, 2018 when Harris was trying to settle his son who was less than six weeks old.

Taking him to the doctor, Harris explained that his son was 'breathing funny'. He was also found to have dilated pupils, irregular breathing and a bruise on his wrist.

The baby was then taken to hospital where he was placed on emergency neo-natal resuscitation and suffered seizures.

While Harris initially suggested that the boy may have injured himself during a feed, he later admitted to police he had shaken his son twice because he wouldn't settle during the night.

The boy has been left with brain damage, severe spastic quadriplegia, epilepsy and blindness.

Speaking at a pre-sentencing hearing earlier this month, the court heard Harris 'snapped' when trying to settle his young son in the early hours of May 22, 2018.

Prosecutor Patrick Dawes said that the child's development has effectively frozen. 'He now has the functioning of a 12-week old baby and yet a year of his life has elapsed,' he added.

'[The boy's] life will be severely diminished,' he said. 'It is certainly not the case that he is going to live until a happy adult life.'

The court also heard that before shaking his son, Harris had also dropped him on the floor, causing a fracture to his collarbone.

Harris pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated recklessly causing serious harm to his own child and was jailed for four years with a non-parole period of 18 months.

  • News
  • Real Life
Amber Wemyss
Amber Wemyss
Amber is a Features Writer for that's life! Her work has also been published with 7News, New Idea, Practical Parenting, Kidspot, Daily Mail, The Sun, Daily Mirror, Pick Me Up, Real People, Chat and Daily Star.

That's Life Mega Monthly! -SAVE UP TO 20%

LESS THAN $4.17 AN ISSUE - TRY IT TODAY!

Subscribe Now
That's Life Mega Monthly!

That's Life Mega Monthly! -SAVE UP TO 20%

LESS THAN $4.17 AN ISSUE - TRY IT TODAY!

Subscribe Now
That's Life Mega Monthly!

Recommended to you

Volcano erupts in White Island, New Zealand
Watch 0:27

Volcano erupts in White Island, New Zealand

{headline}

{headline}

Man who crushed toddler to death with car seat is jailed

Man who crushed toddler to death with car seat is jailed

BIRTH SHOCK: Young Melbourne model has SURPRISE BABY on bathroom floor

BIRTH SHOCK: Young Melbourne model has SURPRISE BABY on bathroom floor

Mum sees 'ghost baby' cuddling her boy on baby monitor

Mum sees 'ghost baby' cuddling her boy on baby monitor

Anti-vaxxer's baby died from asphyxiation while co-sleeping and not vaccinations

Anti-vaxxer's baby died from asphyxiation while co-sleeping and not vaccinations

{headline}

{headline}

Baby taken away from her parents was the start of 22-year fight

Baby taken away from her parents was the start of 22-year fight

Man believes dead baby found in his mother's freezer is his sister

Man believes dead baby found in his mother's freezer is his sister

Age 63 and I’ve got EIGHT babies

Age 63 and I’ve got EIGHT babies

{headline}

{headline}

Standing as tall as a parking metre, this aspiring comedian has the last laugh

Standing as tall as a parking metre, this aspiring comedian has the last laugh

50-year-old Mum hits back at strangers who assume she's a grandma

50-year-old Mum hits back at strangers who assume she's a grandma

Car bursts into FLAMES in epic gender reveal FAIL

Car bursts into FLAMES in epic gender reveal FAIL

Woman Who Can’t Smile Becomes Disability Rights Advocate

Woman Who Can’t Smile Becomes Disability Rights Advocate

My hands were like claws

My hands were like claws

Meghan Markle FINALLY reveals the due date of her royal baby

Meghan Markle FINALLY reveals the due date of her royal baby

Giving birth gave me PTSD

Giving birth gave me PTSD

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • 7Plus
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • 7Plus
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Pacific Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Instyle
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Health
  • Men’s Health
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
© 2019 Pacific Magazines
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

That's Life Mega Monthly! -SAVE UP TO 20%

Shop This Offer
That's Life Mega Monthly!