A "dangerous" precedent has been set for future child abuse cases after a Cambridge man, who severely shook his baby daughter, avoided prison, Family First NZ says.
Jacob Patrick Tatana, 21, was sentenced to three months' home detention and 150 hours' community work in Hamilton District Court this week after he shook his daughter in frustration in March this year, causing severe brain haemorrhaging.
He earlier admitted injuring by unlawful act and was convicted and sentenced in Court yesterday.
"This outcome sends all the wrong messages about the communities' stand against violence, and sets a dangerous precedent for future cases," Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said today.
The child was admitted to Waikato Hospital after she became unresponsive and floppy - a CT scan found she had trauma consistent with shaken baby syndrome.
"This was a terrible abuse of a child with tragic consequences - yet the consequence for the offender can be described as 'mildly inconvenient'," Mr McCoskrie said.
NZPA