Opinion ID: 1190451
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: battered-child syndrome

Text: Defendant contends that battered-child syndrome evidence is inadmissible in the absence of a showing of a conclusive cause of death that is consistent with the pattern of prior abusive conduct. However, the very nature of the syndrome dispels that contention. As the court observed in State v. Tanner, [2] the syndrome is necessarily based upon varying types of unexplained injuries. It is a series of injuries which reflect a pattern of relevant nonaccidental activity. [3] Defendant also advances the argument that the introduction of evidence of battered-child syndrome was unduly prejudicial since it allowed the jury to infer that the prior incidents of abuse were factually or medically related to the cause of death. It is true that evidence of the prior injuries had a factual relationship to the cause of death by establishing circumstantially that someone in a custodial position consistently and intentionally abused the child physically. However, the medical testimony of Dr. Fantelli was clear that the older bruises and fractures did not contribute to or culminate in Michael's death. Furthermore, the prosecution made no contention and offered no evidence that they did so relate. The prosecution presented evidence of defendant's prior abuse of Michael in corroboration of battered-child syndrome. Defendant concedes the admissibility of such evidence as a general proposition, [4] but in this instance contends for inadmissibility on the ground of remoteness. This contention is without merit because all the incidents of abuse occurred within two months of Michael's death. Also, the incidents were not isolated events. Rather, they constituted a pattern of abusive conduct that began quickly following defendant's initial acquaintance with Michael and continued up to the day of death. [5]