A Finnish appeals court has ruled a mother not criminally responsible for her infant's severe head injuries and multiple bone fractures. The court determined she was mentally incompetent during the violent incidents that left her baby with extensive skull fractures and brain damage.
The mother had been previously convicted in district court but was now released from criminal liability due to insanity. Instead, she was ordered into involuntary psychiatric care under Finland's mental health laws.
The infant's father, initially convicted alongside the mother, was fully acquitted by the appeals court. Judges found no evidence linking him to the violence.
The case came to light in November 2023 when parents brought their unresponsive baby to hospital. Medical staff immediately noticed external injuries and the infant required emergency surgery.
Doctors documented extensive skull fractures, multiple broken bones, internal bleeding, and brain injuries. The appeals court concluded these resulted from the mother repeatedly striking the child's head with force.
The violence occurred when the baby was just 7-11 weeks old.
The mother described struggling with postpartum challenges, caring for the infant mostly alone while dealing with sleep deprivation. Court documents noted childcare responsibilities had become mentally overwhelming for her.
She claimed in court the injuries resulted from accidental falls, suggesting an old hand injury might have caused her to drop the baby. Medical experts completely dismissed this explanation, testifying the head injuries would have required falls from several meters high.
During psychiatric observation, staff noted the mother appeared to simulate left-side paralysis when she thought she was being watched. They documented her using both hands normally for tasks like carrying heavy stacks of dishes and washing windows.
The case highlights the extreme pressures some new parents face and the tragic consequences when mental health support systems fail. Finland's approach focuses on treatment rather than punishment for mentally incompetent offenders.