Detective Superintendent Darryl Sweeney told a coronial inquiry that the death of 16-week-old Soul Mathew Turany was the result of a fatal assault, stating there are only two “sensible possibilities” for who inflicted the injuries: the infant’s mother, Storme Turany, or her then-boyfriend, Tony Farmer.
Testifying before coroner Ian Telford, Sweeney stated that police are satisfied that no other individuals had access to the child during the critical time period. A scene examination conducted by investigators ruled out the possibility that a third party had caused the injuries.
The inquest heard that Soul suffered “abusive head trauma” that resulted in his skull being broken in two places. Medical evidence presented during the proceedings revealed bleeding in one eye and across a vast tract of the brain, with the right side of the brain covered in blood by the time the infant arrived at the hospital.
The events leading to the child’s death began on August 30, 2014, at a rural home near Darfield. Emergency services were contacted by Storme Turany, her sister Skye Lamborn, a neighbor named Natasha Brougham and Tony Farmer, all of whom expressed concern over the baby’s health and breathing.
Audio from 111 emergency calls was played during the inquest, including a recording in which the mother said, “I think Iām ringing for nothing.” Following the call, Soul was flown to Christchurch Hospital, where he died early the next day.
Despite the determination that the death was non-accidental, no criminal charges were filed. Sweeney noted that while police had to maintain an open mind because officers were not present during the assault, the specific nature of the injuries narrowed the suspect pool to the two adults living in the home.
Storme Turany has maintained her innocence, though the inquest heard she had struggled with motherhood. The inquiry is now seeking to resolve the circumstances of the death more than a decade after the incident.
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