A babysitter is behind bars after trying to murder a five-month-old boy in a shaking attack and blaming the child’s mother for the crime.
Kimberly Dow inflicted life-threatening injuries on the baby she was supposed to be caring for.
The 34-year-old, from Dunfermline, denied a charge of attempted murder during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh and entered a special defence of incrimination, naming the boy’s mother.
Dow was found guilty of assaulting the boy on March 17, 2022, by shaking him, inflicting trauma to his head and causing head injuries by unknown means due to his serious injury and danger of life and attempting to murder him in her home.
Deputy solicitor Michelle Brannagan told jurors: “There is only evidence of one occasion where she was injured and that was when she was under Dow’s care.”
Kimberly Dow (pictured) inflicted life-threatening injuries on the baby she was supposed to care for.
The 34-year-old, from Dunfermline, denied a charge of attempted murder during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, pictured.
When the baby was taken to hospital after the attack, significant bleeding was found around his brain.
The boy’s mother said she had no issues or concerns after Dow previously cared for the boy when she and his mother contracted Covid.
She said: ‘He came back as always, happy and content.’
She added that on that occasion Dow called her on the phone and asked if she could look after him that night and she said she tried to contact him without success. She later found out that he had fallen off a sofa.
Dow had been out on bail but was remanded in custody by trial judge Lady Ross following the verdict. Sentencing was adjourned until a background report was prepared.
Trial judge Lady Ross said: “I am satisfied that, given the seriousness of the offence and the prospect of a custodial sentence, the appropriate course is to revoke bail and remand her in custody.”