Dad Accused Of Shaking Baby To Death Blames Mom For The Murder

KEY POINTS

Michael Macrae, who is accused of killing his infant son, claimed the child's mother was responsible for his death
His child, Nathaniel Macrae, died in 2019 — almost a year after he was taken to the hospital for serious injuries
Prosecutors believe Michael violently shook and physically abused his son, causing the latter to die

A man in West Australia accused of shaking and abusing his infant son, which resulted in the baby's death in 2018, claimed the child's mother was responsible for the murder.

Michael Macrae denied the accusation that he was responsible for the death of his son, Nathaniel Macrae, 7News.com.au reported.

Nathaniel was 6 weeks old when he was taken to Narrogin Regional Hospital with serious injuries in October 2017. The infant, who was under the care of his father at the time, suffered bleeding to his brain, a fractured back and ribs, as well as bruising all over his body.

Doctors described the injuries as being some of "the worst they've ever seen."

The baby was transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth, where he was diagnosed with catastrophic brain injury and put on life support.

Nathaniel would later die at his Golden Bay home on Sept. 30, 2019. He was 13 months old.

Police launched an investigation following Nathaniel's death to determine whether or not it was caused by the injuries he llegedly suffered at the hands of his father, who was initially charged with grievous bodily harm but had his charges upgraded to murder a year after Nathaniel's death.

Erica Lawrence, Nathaniel's mother and primary caretaker, told court she handed the baby to Michael on Oct. 7, 2017 so she could go to the hospital for back pain. Michael later refused to return Nathaniel when Lawrence asked for him back as the father claimed he was entitled to spend time with his son.

Nathaniel was rushed to the hospital 48 hours later after he went pale, limp and suffered from seizures.

Prosecutors believed Nathaniel's condition was the result of Michael violently shaking and physically abusing the child.

Michael, however, has denied the allegations and claimed he did not know what had happened to his son or how he became injured. Additionally, he claimed he was not responsible for the injuries.

Edward Fitzpatrick, Michael's lawyer, told court Tuesday that Lawrence was responsible for Nathaniel's death. He accused the mother of being so exhausted, in pain and agitated that she either shook, dropped or harmed Nathaniel before he was handed to Michael. Lawrence has since denied the allegations.

The trial continues.