Babysitter Held Accountable Kicking an Infant in the Head

Leaving your child in the care of another person takes a lot of courage in general. Your worst nightmare, of course, is that something bad may happen to your child, but you're well reminded that you have someone watching their every move, and caring for them. However, Newsday reports that a Suffolk county man is being charged with assault for brutally shaking the infant, as well as maliciously kicking the child in the head. (Newsday - Babysitter charged with beating infant)

The should-be horror story occurred on last Sunday when the assaulter, Joshua Cohen, age 20, got annoyed at the infant. After Cohen become so irritated at the infant he, according to Newsday:

"[...] knocked the child from the bed to the floor, kicked her in the head and shook her violently." (Newsday - Babysitter charged with beating infant)

After Cohen allegedly knocked the infant girl to the ground and attacked her, the girl, according to Newsday, developed breathing issues. When Cohen saw that the little girl was having breathing problems he called the infant girls' mother at work.

Shaking a baby can easily be fatal. According to The National Exchange Club Foundation, the effects of shaking a baby are as follows:

"When a baby is vigorously shaken, the head moves back and forth. This sudden whiplash motion can cause bleeding inside the head and increased pressure on the brain, causing the brain to pull apart and resulting in injury to the baby. This is known as Shaken Baby Syndrome, and is one of the leading forms of fatal child abuse. A baby's head and neck are susceptible to head trauma because his or her muscles are not fully developed and the brain tissue is exceptionally fragile. Head trauma is the leading cause of disability among abused infants and children." (National Shaken Baby Syndome Campaign)

Now compare the actions taken when a baby is shaken, and to when someone kicks it in the head. Obviously the kick is much more powerful than a mere shake.

Joshua Cohen, the attacker in this situation, is currently being held accountable and charged with first-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. First-degree assault specifically means that the assault upon the victim was intentional, and the goal was inflict bodily harm. When someone performs first-degree assault, they are physically and psychologically conscious of what they are doing.

The infant girl is currently being treated at Stony Brook University Medical Center, and is in critical condition.

Source: Newsday,"Babysitter charged with beating infant." Newsday.com.
URL: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-libaby0626,0,1784589.story?track=rss