Parents Charged with Attempted Murder Following Baby's Abuse

In Vienna, the parents of a nine-week-old baby have been taken into custody following allegations of severe abuse resulting in life-threatening injuries to their child. The mother has reportedly implicated her partner as the primary offender after their arrest.

According to a spokesperson for the Vienna public prosecutor's office, an indictment has been filed against the parents of a baby who was allegedly subjected to severe mistreatment, leading to charges of attempted murder. The case began to unfold when their six-week-old daughter was admitted to a hospital in critical condition with serious brain injuries indicative of shaken baby syndrome.

The parents, who originate from Syria, were taken into custody in mid-January after an investigation initiated by the Vienna State Criminal Police on December 20. Prior to their arrest, their three other children were removed from their custody due to immediate safety concerns. The Vienna Child and Youth Welfare Office (MA 11) has since assumed temporary guardianship, arranging for crisis foster care for the three toddlers.

An expert forensic medical report confirmed the presence of injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome. The parents claimed that their youngest child had sustained the serious head injuries after falling from a height while playing with her five-year-old sister and hitting her head on a mobile phone. However, the findings of the forensic examination contradicted this narrative by revealing typical injuries associated with shaken baby syndrome, including brain hemorrhages, retinal hemorrhages, and thrombosis of the bridging veins.

The father, aged 26, faces charges as the primary perpetrator, accused of violently assaulting and shaking his infant daughter at least twice, causing her to suffer life-threatening injuries. The mother, two years younger than the father, is charged as an accomplice, accused of being aware of the abuse and failing to intervene to protect her child.

The indictment has not yet been finalized, and any potential appeal would be reviewed by the Vienna Higher Regional Court. Tragically, the little girl has survived her injuries but has sustained irreversible brain damage, according to medical assessments regarding her long-term prognosis. She now requires nutritional support through a gastric tube.