A 29-year-old WA man has been found guilty of unlawfully killing his baby son, who died a year after suffering catastrophic injuries at a house in the Wheatbelt town of Narrogin.
WARNING: This story contains content that some people may find distressing.
Micheal Ashley Macrae was on trial in the Supreme Court for the past week and a half accused of subjecting the seven-week-old, Nathaniel, to some form of violent behaviour which left him with injuries from his head to his feet.
They included bruising to his face, chest, abdomen and buttocks, fractured ribs and injuries to his spine and arms.
He was also left with no brain function, incapable of any movement and needing 24-hour care.
He survived for more than a year, but died at his mother's Perth home in September 2018 from pneumonia in combination with an acquired brain injury.
Father suggested he was set up
State prosecutor James Mactaggart alleged the injuries the baby suffered were consistent with him being shaken while in the care of Macrae, who the court heard had refused to return Nathaniel to his mother.
Nathaniel was born after the woman had a brief relationship with Macrae, who in an interview with police claimed he did not know how the child had suffered the injuries.
He also suggested he was being set up by the baby's mother.
A witness who was staying with Macrae at the time, Nathan Kalling, told the court that he was asleep in his bedroom when he was woken up by the sound of a thud coming from the direction of the lounge room, where Macrae was staying with the child.
He said he went back to sleep but was woken in the morning by Macrae coming into his room, holding Nathaniel and saying, "My boy, my boy".
Mr Kalling said the child appeared limp and was gasping for air.
Macrae then took Nathaniel to the Narrogin hospital where he told staff he had found the baby like that in his cot.
Charge upgraded after child's death
Immediately after the incident, Macrae was charged with causing the child grievous bodily harm, but the charge was upgraded to murder after his death.
On Thursday the jury deliberated for about an hour and a half before acquitting Macrae of the murder charge but finding him guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter.
Nathaniel's mother, Erica Lawrence, who cared for him after he was injured, was in court for the verdict and wiped away tears as it was delivered.
Macrae has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced in March next year.
