Fury as Long Island neo-natal nurse caught slamming newborn into crib is CLEARED of all charges

New Yorkers are furious that charges have been dropped against a Long Island nurse who was caught on video picking up a baby and throwing him face down in his bassinet.

Amanda Burke was charged with endangering the welfare of a child at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip in April 2023.

His trial was scheduled to begin Monday, but a judge granted the defense’s motion to dismiss it after prosecutors revealed that their medical expert said Burke was unlikely to harm the baby.

‘Unfortunately, despite the disturbing video that captured the incident in this case, the New York State Department of Licensing concluded that the defendant did not act with gross negligence. As such, we were unable to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt at trial,” a spokesperson for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office told DailyMail.com.

Courtney Scarola, a pregnant woman, said NBC New York The decision to dismiss the case was outrageous and she will not entrust her baby to the hospital nursery when she gives birth.

‘That is absolutely absurd. That’s why my next baby won’t be in daycare,” she said.

On social media, other New Yorkers expressed their anguish over the decision to drop the case.

‘Unreal! New York is disgusting with their laws,” a Long Island resident named Samantha Leigh said on Facebook. “Charges are now dropped against a nurse who hit a baby face down.”

“That case definitely should have never been dropped, it’s so sad and the video clearly shows how hard she was on that baby and that she could have killed him,” said Dawn Fabiano.

“It’s disgusting that they won’t release her,” said Alexandra Rezende.

“That video made me sick. I could have killed that baby,” Emmanuel Martínez said.

news day reported that Suffolk County Deputy District Attorney Sean Murphy said in court Monday: “(The doctor) stated to us that, in his professional opinion, the defendant’s actions would likely not be detrimental to his physical well-being.” child”.

A letter obtained by the local newspaper said the state Department of Education’s Office of Professional Discipline found Burke’s actions “did not constitute professional misconduct” and classified them as “simple negligence” in June.

Burke’s attorney, Robert Gottlieb, told DailyMail.com that his client is grateful the charges were dismissed, but said the decision came too late.

‘Criminal charges against Amanda Burke should never have been filed by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. “Amanda has lived a nightmare for almost a year because the district attorney failed to conduct the most basic investigation,” Gottlieb said.

‘Prosecutors chose to ignore the evidence we provided them in June and September 2023 that established that Amanda’s conduct was not criminal. We begged the DA for almost a year to speak to his own pediatrics expert, who we trusted would confirm that Amanda had committed no crime, but the DA did nothing.’

‘Instead, the district attorney waited until four days before the trial began to first speak to his expert, who could not support the district attorney’s position. “While we are grateful the district attorney dismissed the charges, it came months too late,” Gottlieb said.

The two-day-old baby named Nikko was born at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip in February 2023 and was under NICU care being treated with antibiotics when the horrific attack occurred.

Nikko’s father, Fidel Sinclair, had gone to check on his baby and began recording a video of him crying through the nursery window when he saw a nurse pick up his son and forcefully turn him around, hitting him on his back. face against his bassinet. .

He later returned home with his parents, but the two were left bewildered and nervous after the incident.

Sinclair said NBC New York witnessing the incident ‘broke’ him. Mama Consuelo Saravia immediately confronted the nurse and told her: ‘I don’t want you to touch my child! You just slammed the door.

She claims the nurse responded by saying, “Oh no, if you think I mistreated him or something, I’m sorry.”

A spokesperson for Good Samaritan Hospital told DailyMail.com at the time that the nurse had been “recently hired” and was fired immediately after the incident.

It is unclear if Burke still works as a nurse, but her nursing license has not been suspended according to the New York State Bureau of Professions’ official database.