Father found guilty of manslaughter in the death of his seven-week-old daughter

HALIFAX – A Halifax man has been found guilty of manslaughter and aggravated assault in the death of his baby daughter by a Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge.

Ashiqur (ASH’-ah-kur) Rahman had pleaded not guilty to both charges in the death of seven-week-old Aurora Breakthrough in July 2009.

The prosecutor argued that the case hinged on Rahman’s credibility versus that of the baby’s mother, Jane Gomes.

The woman testified she saw her ex-boyfriend slap and shake the newborn in the weeks before she died.

The defence argued that Gomes’s testimony was meant to shift blame away from her and came only after reaching a plea bargain with the Crown.

Gomes received a conditional discharge with six months probation for failing to provide the necessities of life for Aurora.

The Crown said an autopsy clearly showed Aurora suffered broken bones and brain trauma before dying in the arms of a nurse who cared for her while her parents were in jail.