Babysitter guilty of torturing boy
A BABYSITTER broke down in tears as a jury found her guilty of torturing a six-year-old boy by burning his face, back and hands with a hot knife and burning matches for being naughty.
Muno Ahmed Adan, 21, also was convicted of assaulting the schoolboy and depriving him of his liberty while he was in her care at Inala, west of Brisbane, in 2010.
She had pleaded not guilty to seven charges during a Brisbane District Court trial which began eight days ago.
Judge David Andrews said he would need to know if "this cruel kind of physical discipline" was "more culturally acceptable in Ms Adan's cultural background".
"If it is thought to be culturally tolerable in some parts of our community then ... general deterrence becomes important," he said.
Crown prosecutor Dennis Kinsella said he believed such issues were "quite pertinent" and he would endeavour to put such information before the judge at sentence.
During the trial, the jury heard the boy's eight-year-old sister saw Adan tape the boy's mouth, tie him up with rope and lock him in a shed.
The boy was treated for injuries to his back, face, arms and genitals at the Royal Children's Hospital.
Adan told police the boy's injuries were as a result of a fall at a party and an accident involving hot water in the shower.
The sentence is scheduled for 10am on Thursday.
