The death of 8 week old Thevane Banner has everyone reeling in outrage and also bewilderment. As we told you last night, based on the results of the post mortem, the baby boy died due to fractures to the head and back - what is known as battered child syndrome. So what happened to the baby ? And if someone did this to the child, who did it? Tonight there are no definitive answers to those questions. What we know is that the child's mother - who is reportedly 18 years old - and father, reportedly 28 - have been detained at the Belmopan police station since last night. Tonight Belmopan police are racing to put the file together to send to the DPP.
Now, the baby's father, Troy Banner spoke to Plus TV yesterday before he was detained and we have more from that interview where he denies any allegation of wrongdoing or abuse, blaming the Western Regional Hospital staff and even the police for giving him the run around.
Interestingly, Banner also speaks to the bruises on the baby's body, saying that that probably happened when he was frantically trying to get the baby to stop coughing that Saturday morning.
Troy Banner - Father
"It's just puzzling because no matter what I can't get back my son. I just don't want them to do is; because I have a bad vibe that they are trying to fabricate stuff to try to take themselves out or whatever and make me and my girlfriend look like the bad persons. like if it was a case of abuse. But my son was only 8 weeks old. I have to be a damn fool or a crazy man to try and harm an 8 week old, my own child. Patiently waiting 9 months there, sleepless nights. My girlfriend got admitted a couple of times threatening with miscarriage, threatened for early birth, sleepless nights and all of that and now my son isn't here with us."
Reporter
"Did police say if they are investigating you for any type of wrongdoing?"
Troy Banner - Father
"They aren't, they say they are investigating the matter and from the post-mortem they will state what they will do from there, but the only thing puzzling my brain is why would they take the baby from early and carry him and not inform us when we were at the police station in Roaring Creek until almost 11pm Saturday night with lots of questioning and back and forth and they took me home for the battle that we feed the baby. I wish if they did wrong to come out and say what they did instead of having us go through this or maybe try fabricate something to make me or the mother take a fall for something that we are innocent about."
Reporter
"Some health officials are indicating that there were perhaps some bruises on the child."
Troy Banner - Father
"That was the morning. What happened was when he was choking and I sat him on the bed I was fretting I didn't have an idea of what to do, so me personally I just gave him a little slap, but I guess I maybe slap him too hard, so he has a little bruise. I explained all of that to the WPC. When I explained that to the WPC, she explains to me that she is so sorry but she really understands, because as a parent in that fret you won't know what to do, so you try to do anything in your best knowledge to try to get a reaction or try to get something from your child. The WPC was there and the male officer that was there, they understood us because they themselves was feeling a little doubt from the hospital. The WPC explained to us that she felt a funny way. She said personally that's why she dont go to that institution. She would use her last penny even if she has to left broke and hungry to take her child to private."
Reporter
"Do you blame the hospital for your child's death?"
Troy Banner - Father
"I think it's that adrenalin that the nurse stated in exact words. To me she didn't feel happy with it. She said like this: we gave him 4-5 doses of adrenalin and after she said that she just disappeared also. She said that and she was gone."
The parents remain in police custody pending the file being sent to the DPP.
We understand the file will include a startling allegation backed up by a statement and photographs - suggesting that Troy Banner has been involved in a similar case before where a child was treated for bruises to the face and back, but survived. We'll keep following the story.
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