A Victorian man accused of causing "horrendous" injuries to a toddler allegedly told police he checked on her during the night and her injuries had "appeared".
The 37-year-old Traralgon man is accused of intentionally causing serious injury to the 22-month-old daughter of his partner while home alone with her.
He applied for bail in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on Thursday where it was revealed he first allegedly punched his partner in the stomach after she told him she was pregnant in October this year.
Two days later she miscarried. It's unknown if the assault contributed, Detective Senior Constable Christine Walsh said.
He's accused of assaulting the 22-month-old girl, causing her a swollen temple and black eye, in the shower on October 29.
The man allegedly told his partner the girl had slipped.
It's alleged that on November 12 the man seriously assaulted the girl again, causing her "horrendous" injuries including a brain bleed, haemorrhages behind both eyes, swelling to multiple areas of her face, a laceration to he back of her head and skull fracture.
Det Walsh said the man had given no account as to how the injuries occurred, except to say that he checked on her while she was sleeping and the injuries appeared.
Doctors have expressed significant concerns about "non-accidental trauma" with the cause still being investigated.
They say there's a possibility she will require a wheelchair for an unknown period of time. Damage to her eyesight is being monitored.
Det Walsh said the man rang the mother screaming and requesting she call an ambulance. The girl was taken to hospital by her mother, the man and his father and was later airlifted to Melbourne where she remains in hospital.
The court heard the man was continuing to "manipulate and intimidate" his partner to get her to stay in the home with him. Police say the man's family are wealthy and have shown they will facilitate his requests to breach court orders.
Det Walsh said the man and his family were captured on listening devices telling the mother not to attend the hospital where her daughter is being treated and to "say no comment" if contacted by police.
The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing has also expressed "grave concerns" if the man is released on bail.
The man's lawyer Penny Marcou initially tried to have the case heard behind closed doors, saying her client and his family had received death threats.
Ms Marcou described the medical evidence as being "in a state of flux" and while there were significant concerns it did not rule out an accidental cause.
Det Walsh agreed with Ms Marcou that there was no medical evidence her client had caused the woman's miscarriage or that his explanation about the shower incident wasn't the truth.
"This matter will go to trial," she said.
The application is expected to continue on Friday.
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