Father guilty of manslaughter of baby son whose injuries were like car crash victim

A father has been found guilty of the manslaughter and criminal neglect of his 21-day-old son, who sustained injuries consistent with a high-impact car crash.

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Ashley John McGregor, 35, stood trial in South Australia’s District Court earlier this year after being charged over his son’s death in April 2021.

During the trial, a police interview with McGregor was played to the court in which a police officer described the injuries suffered by baby Alvin as being consistent with him being “violently shaken”.

“It’s very similar to what you’d expect … in a high-impact car crash,” he said.

McGregor will appear again in court next month for sentencing submissions.

During the trial, prosecutor Michael Foundas told the court Alvin arrived at the Noarlunga Hospital unresponsive on April 23, 2021 — about 40 hours after he was allegedly injured at the family’s Christie Downs home.

He said the autopsy revealed the baby had suffered “a number of significant injuries”, including rib fractures, bruising to the back, brain and two separate scalp bruises, as well as a detached retina.

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