Babysitter Told Toddler 'I Will Bash You' Before Seriously Injuring Him, Court Heard

A babysitter, who is on trial for inflicting serious injuries on a 3-year-old boy, reportedly said "I will bash you" before assaulting the child, an Australian court heard Tuesday.

The court heard the injuries inflicted by Xing Shen and her boyfriend Xi Zhang left the child with permanent disabilities such as reduced motor skills and a severe language disorder. The child also suffered bruising across his body, fractures to his left wrist and forearm, injuries to his right leg and a bite mark on his right forearm.

However, prosecutors couldn't explain what exactly Shen did to the child on May 8, 2019, at the couple’s apartment, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The child was Shen's friend’s son, and was staying with them from May 2019. On the day of the assault, a cleaner in the apartment overheard Shen telling the boy “I will bash you.” This was followed by a loud bang and the boy was seen unresponsive in the couple's bedroom.

Shen and Zhang took the boy to the hospital as he was convulsing. They lied to the hospital authorities that the boy fell while playing.

The child required resuscitation and a brain surgery, 7News reported. The doctor who attended to the child described Shen’s accident story as "improbable if not impossible."

The police, who inspected the apartment, found a hole in the wall. But, they said it was "improbable" that a fall caused that damage as the hole was one meter above the floor. Authorities also discovered footage on Shen's phone, which showed a liquid being sprayed on the child's face. The video recorded at 3 a.m. was taken the day before he was injured. It had the voice of people laughing in the background, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Shen has pleaded guilty to negligently causing serious injury. Zhang too has admitted to the same charge, as he was with her when the incident occurred.

She confessed to locking the boy outside on the balcony as punishment for "lying," 7News reported. She said she also pushed the child off the couch into the wall when he kicked her.

Meanwhile, Shen's lawyer Hayden Rattray requested the court to impose no more jail time so Shen could leave for her country.

Rattray called for her punishment to be the two years, which she has already served. He said Shen had given birth to a baby 16 months ago, who is now in the care of her parents in China.

“Plainly, her time in custody has been extraordinarily onerous. It’s difficult to comprehend the hardship that must have befallen Ms Shen since she gave birth. Her almost sole focus now is her own betterment so she can contribute meaningfully to the life of her young child when she returns to China," the lawyer said.

The sentencing is expected on May 12.