Can someone explain the evidence against JMF for me? I feel like there's not a lot that's been presented other than "he was a caregiver and should have known". Also, the DNA on the cot. Has it said it's from semen in court or is the reporting softening the wording slightly? Could it be any kind of DNA? Saliva etc?
I think men who've been the breadwinner have long relied on saying they weren't aware of abuse or neglect in the home; but its gradually becoming clear this is in general a very old excuse, usually hiding something else (passive participation in abuse, drug use, sexual abuse.)
Alan Titford, Kaylea Titford's dad tried it and got an extra year.
There was also a tragic case in the U.S. of neglect of a 4 month old, Sterling Koehn (don't google, its very upsetting), in which the father claimed to be working long hours and unaware, saying he didn't change diapers (due to his 'sensitive nose and stomach'!) or feed the children. The prosecution were able to prove that his work log didn't match his employers records/pay, and that the size and layout of their apartment meant he would have heard and smelt the signs of neglect. Idk how it works from country to country, but you have legal and parental responsibility, and if you claim your partner is responsible for certain aspects of care, they will ask on the stand whether you were aware of infant care and would have engaged in it if you were aware of neglect or harm.
Unless JMF can argue he never engaged in care of Preston, which would harm the image they're trying to build of him, they'll presumably ask him about what he witnessed of the injuries Preston sustained and the texts he recieved (both JV complaining about Preston 'I strangled him' etc. and the photographs), and the onus is on him to explain why he wasn't alarmed by an infants anal prolapse or bite to his bottom.