Mum 'removed baby's fingernails'

Reko Rennie
October 29, 2007 - 3:11PM

A 22-year-old mother who allegedly pulled out eight of her four-month-old baby's fingernails has appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

The mother, who cannot be named, has been charged with recklessly causing serious injury.

A police prosecution summary obtained by The Age alleges the mother took her baby daughter to a Frankston Hospital on April 7 last year where staff noticed the child was missing eight fingernails and had injuries to her hands, arm and head.

Child Protection Workers were alerted.

According to the prosecution summary, a doctor who examined the baby gave an opinion that the infant's fingernails were pulled out with tweezers or something similar.

Magistrate Paul Smith today ordered the woman to reappear at a committal hearing in February next year.

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