Matchim denies shaking baby
CBC News
Posted: Apr 14, 2011 1:41 PM NT
Last Updated: Apr 14, 2011 1:41 PM NT
Colin Matchim told a Supreme Court judge in St. John's on Thursday that he didn't shake his infant daughter, but the baby's mother did. (CBC)
A St. John's man charged with shaking his baby daughter denied that he ever shook the baby.
Colin Matchim, 25, took the stand in his own defence Thursday in Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme court where he is facing a charge of aggravated assault.
It's alleged that in March of 2009, Matchim shook his three-and-a-half month old daughter causing severe brain damage.
Although Royal Newfoundland Constabulary investigators recorded a confession from Matchim on March 26, 2009 after his arrest, he recanted the confession during his testimony.
Matchim said the confession to was false and that he only made it out of fear that the baby's mother, Kate Coombs, would lose custody of their daughter.
Matchim told the court he now believes Coombs shook the baby.
In another twist, a neighbour has also testified that he saw Coombs shake the baby. Randy Ward said that while at Coombs's mother's house in Portugal Cove South, he saw Coombs shake the infant.
Ward called Crimestoppers in April 2010 and reported that he witnessed the incident in August 2009.
Corrections and Clarifications
- An earlier version of the story said "Randy Ward said that while outside Coombs's mother's house in Portugal Cove South, he saw Coombs shake the infant." The incident was witnessed at, not outside, the residence. Friday, April 15, 2011 | 4:00 p.m. NT
Share Tools
Latest Nfld. & Labrador News Headlines
- St. John's, old supermarkets and economic black holes
- Deserted supermarkets are annoying neighbours, confounding would-be retailers and posing new questions for city council, writes John Gushue. more »
- Arts workers criticize E.I. changes
- A long-time theatre director in Newfoundland and Labrador says changes to the federal employment insurance system will be bad for the province's seasonal theatre and tourism industries. more »
- On Point | Peter Penashue on strained relations with Ottawa
- Newfoundland and Labrador's representative in the federal government, Peter Penashue, predicts relations with the province will improve. more »
- St. John's trying to attract women firefighters
- The St. John's regional fire department says it's trying to convince more young women to consider careers in firefighting. more »
Top News Headlines
- Canadian Pacific strikers face back-to-work legislation
- Labour Minister Lisa Raitt is prepared to end the Canadian Pacific Railway strike if necessary, after both CP and the union rejected a proposal for voluntary arbitration by the government-appointed negotiator on Sunday. Raitt says she is "extremely disappointed." more »
- Syrian regime denies role in Houla massacre
- The UN Security Council condemned the Syrian regime at an emergency meeting Sunday, holding president Bashar al-Assad's military responsible for the massacre of more than 100 people, dozens of whom were children younger than 10 years old. more »
- Ryder Hesjedal wins prestigious Giro d'Italia
- Victoria native Ryder Hesjedal has become the first Canadian to win one of the cycling world's three Grand Tour events, wrapping up the 2012 Giro d'Italia with an excellent performance in the final stage in Milan. more »
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Two Winnipeg children who had been missing for nearly four years were found in Mexico after a man raised concerns about his neighbour, according to a private investigator. more »
- St. John's, old supermarkets and economic black holes
- Crews still fighting central Labrador fire
- Man dies in crash near Bay Roberts
- Arts workers criticize E.I. changes
- RNC investigating Corner Brook death
- Bonavista, N.L., 'coyote' was really wolf, tests confirm
- $175,000 for Burin Peninsula aquaculture research
- What moose? Woman can't recall dramatic collision
- 700-hectare Labrador fire has moved off CF base
