Shaking and a hard hit to the head may have led to the death of a 10-month-old baby girl in Melbourne, a court has been told.
Chloe Murphy died in December 2010, two days after she had been dropped off at the Kensington home of babysitter Ketapat Jenkins, who was found not guilty of child homicide by a jury in 2014.
A panel of nine medical experts, testifying in the Coroners Court of Victoria on Monday at an inquest into Chloe's death, say it's most probable her injuries were non-accidental and caused by at least three acts, including twisting to her arm, "rotational force" such as shaking and a head impact.
The court heard Chloe appeared in good health when she was dropped at Ms Jenkins' home by her parents Anthony and Phurithee Murphy, who went to watch a movie.
She was found to be unresponsive and in respiratory distress when they returned and was rushed to the Royal Children's Hospital, where it was discovered she had a significant brain injury as well as a fractured skull and arm, and eye haemorrhages.
Surgeons operated on Chloe, but she could not be saved, dying two days later on December 5, 2010.
The medical panel spent Monday morning discussing questions from Coroner Jacqui Hawkins before returning their answers to the court.
They believed Chloe's injuries were consistent with her forearm being grabbed and twisted, followed by shaking and the baby being flung at the floor or wall.
The possibility she was left in a walker and fell down the stairs, that she fell down the stairs in her carer's arms or that she fell or was thrown from the first floor were also potential, but less likely scenarios.
The impact required to fracture Chloe's skull would have been equivalent to up to 10 times her body weight, the court was told.
Dr Maryanne Lobo said a fall could have explained some, if not all, of Chloe's injuries, but it was unlikely.
"If it was a complex fall it should have been known by the carer," she said.
Some of Chloe's symptoms would have been noticeable immediately after the trauma that caused her severe injuries, the experts said.
At trial, Ms Jenkins was accused of deliberately assaulting Chloe while the girl's parents went out.
The defence told the trial there was no evidence the babysitter had attacked the baby, and suggested Chloe's injuries were most likely sustained in a fall.
Ms Jenkins is due to give evidence to the inquest on Tuesday, and the lead police investigator and the doctor who treated the baby girl are also expected to take the stand.
The hearing will aim to determine the circumstances that led to Chloe's death.
Coroner Hawkins said it was not her role to apportion blame.
The inquest continues.
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