The baby was assaulted sometime overnight.
“It is unknown exactly what the defendant did to the baby, and the detail of what occurred may never be known,” said the agreed summary of facts.
Ryland claimed the baby had fallen off his bed on to the floor.
Ryland’s mother saw the baby the following morning and said there was “nothing in his eyes”.
The baby was taken to Gisborne Hospital and transferred on the same day to intensive care at Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland.
Doctors, informed of Ryland’s explanation for the injuries, said his claims lacked credibility.
The baby’s injuries were described as: severe head injury with acute right subdural haemorrhage and diffuse hypoxic-ischaemic brain damage, extensive haemorrhage, acute fracture to the right clavicle, eight rib fractures, probable fracture of the transverse process of the fourth thoracic vertebra and laceration through the left lobe of the liver.
The agreed summary of facts says “expert opinion is that the baby’s head injury, with resultant subdural bleeding, hypoxic brain
injury, mass effect and retinal haemorrhages is the result of abusive head trauma”.
“Such head trauma could have been inflicted through (for instance) violent shaking, slapping, striking, throwing or slamming.
“The absence of a skull fracture or abrasion to the head does not detract from this finding.
“The combination of bruises and broken ribs was likely caused by squeezing of the chest, demonstrated in part by the levering of one of his ribs away from his vertebrae.
“The fractured clavicle was caused by direct force to it.”
The baby is now highly sight impaired and has regular muscle spasms.
He has abnormal motor development and may never be able to sit unsupported, crawl, walk or talk.
His hearing appears to have been retained.
Judge Turitea Bolstad, referring to an updated medical report, said the baby was in community care, had no prospects of gaining any normality “as we know it” and had since developed cerebral palsy.
Sentencing was a sad time for “all of us”.
Ryland knew he was going to prison.
He had many letters of support from whanau which stated Ryland was considered to be a caring person, had a good work ethic and would give someone the shirt of his back.
His offending did not fit with his character.
A report writer said they had not previously met such a heart-felt person in an interview and recommended a sentence short of imprisonment.
Judge Bolstad said that was not an appropriate sentence.
Ryland did not have any previous convictions.
He had an upbringing where domestic violence was common.
Aggravating features, accepted by the judge, included the serious injuries, the high degree of vulnerability and defencelessness of the baby, and the “profound” breach of trust.
The judge established a starting point for sentencing of seven years imprisonment as recommended by defence counsel Leighvi Maynard.
Mr Blaschke had submitted for a starting point of 11 years.
Judge Bolstad said she accepted Mr Maynard’s submission that the seriousness of Ryland’s offending was reflected by the charge laid against him.
The judge gave discount of 10 percent for Ryland’s guilty plea and 20 percent for youth, previous good character and other matters included in sentencing reports, for an end sentence of four years and nine months.
