Shaken Baby Syndrome Convictions

What happened

The outlets' own sentences, most widely reported first. Hover or tap one to see who reported it.

Analysis

How it changed

1. 28 Sep

   Jennifer Gaskin was found guilty of manslaughter in 2002 in the death of her 2 1/2-month-old son Joseph after two medical experts testified the newborn had died as a result of shaken baby syndrome — a term largely abandoned later as the science behind the diagnosis was increasingly questioned.

   4 outlets · Toronto Star
2. 29 Sep

   Significant concerns about that medical evidence emerged years later as the province examined shaken-baby cases from the mid-1980s to the mid-2000s, and Gaskin’s legal team eventually retained three more experts to look over the file.

   2 outlets · Global News

Coverage 5 articles

• 29 Sep Ontario woman convicted of killing her baby in 2002 acquitted amid new medical researchJennifer Gaskin, an Ontario woman convicted of manslaughter for her infant son's death in 2002, was acquitted recently after new medical research disputed the previous shaken baby syndrome diagnosis. The original conviction was based on expert testimony that later became discredited as fresh evidence indicated the possibility of sudden infant death syndrome or undetermined cause of death. Gaskin expressed relief and…CBC
• 29 Sep Ontario mom cleared of 'miscarriage of justice' in baby's 1999 death. Her manslaugher conviction based on 'discredited' shaken baby syndromeOntario’s highest court acquitted Jennifer Gaskin of manslaughter in the death of her infant son Joseph in 1999, citing unreliable expert evidence and the discredited shaken baby syndrome theory. The conviction was overturned based on fresh evidence submitted by Gaskin's legal team, led by veteran lawyer James Lockyer. Gaskin, who served two years in prison and lost custody of her other children during the case…Toronto Star
• 29 Sep Ontario woman appeals conviction in infant son’s death based on new medical evidenceJennifer Gaskin, an Ontario woman convicted of manslaughter in 2002 for the death of her two-and-a-half-month-old son Joseph due to alleged shaken baby syndrome, is appealing her conviction using new medical evidence. After re-evaluation by additional experts who could not rule out inflicted injury but also noted that premature babies like Joseph might die from sudden infant death syndrome, Gaskin’s legal team…Global News
• 28 Sep 'I never shook him': Woman asks court to quash 2002 conviction in infant son's deathJennifer Gaskin is asking Canada’s highest court to overturn her 2002 manslaughter conviction for the death of her infant son Joseph, arguing new expert evidence has discredited the shaken baby syndrome diagnosis that led to her conviction. The Crown agrees, saying current medical opinion undermines the original case against Gaskin and argues she should be acquitted. Gaskin served nearly two years in prison after…Toronto Star
• 28 Sep Woman convicted of manslaughter in shaken-baby case hopes to clear her nameJennifer Gaskin, convicted of manslaughter in 2002 for her baby boy's death due to what was then diagnosed as shaken-baby syndrome, is appealing her case with support from Crown lawyers. The Ontario Court of Appeal hearing on September 29 aims to overturn her conviction based on new expert opinions that cast doubt on the validity of shaken-baby syndrome diagnoses and highlight potential errors in earlier forensic…The Globe and Mail

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