A man has been charged with killing his girlfriend ’s six -month – old baby after mistaking him for a spider. Dwayne Lindsey is said to have let out a horrendous howl after realising something was wrong with his girlfriend’s son Chayse Dearing , who suffered severe traumatic brain and spinal chord injuries .
Lindsey , from Melbourne , says the baby had fallen asleep on his chest and claims he jumped up in fright after mistaking the baby for a spider. He says Chayse rolled off his chest and hit his head against a heater , accidentally killing him. Lindsey , who is on trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne , Australia , had been alone with Chayse when he died on June 26 , 2016. His mother , Michelle Dearing , had gone on a shopping trip with friends to a 24 – hour supermarket at 4 am on the morning of Chayse ’s death .
But prosecutor Nicholas Papas QC has reportedly said Mr. Lindsey ’s version of events did not match medical reports , which suggested Chayse ’s death was unlikely to have been accidental . Neighbour Brian Woods said – via pre – recorded evidence played to the court – that on the night of Chayse ’ s death , he heard people next door arguing , keeping him awake for hours .
Then about 8 am , he heard Lindsey trying to wake the baby. “ He kept saying ‘ hey you .’”He said it about 60 times, ” Mr . Woods said .Lindsey let out a “ long dingo howl ” when he started to “ realise there ’s something pretty serious with the baby, ” the witness added .Mr . Woods said he heard swearing and Lindsey stomping his feet before calling the child ’s mother about 8. 20 am, telling her “ there’ s something wrong with the baby – come home .”
Chayse ’s mother Michelle Dearing told the court yesterday that she and Lindsey , then 34 , were planning to get married before the fateful night . She said Lindsey had proposed to her only nights earlier . The witness said she had taught Lindsey some techniques to help settle babies and added he had ‘so much for patience’ for someone who wasn ’t his son .
