Deputy State Coroner Anthony Schapel, sitting in Port Pirie, is looking into the death of baby Jenisha Parrott (also known as White) on July 18, 2004.

Aboriginal hospital liaison worker Carol Warren told the inquest that she had heard a conversation involving the baby’s mother and a social worker.

Ms Warren said the mother, when asked whether the father had shaken the baby, replied “yes”.

The mother, an Aboriginal woman, had then also spoken to Ms Warren in native language saying that when the father is “hanging out for dope,” he gets angry at her and their twin babies.

The conversation happened, the hearing was told, while the mother and twins were being collected from their home in Port Germein for a physical examination at the Port Pirie hospital.

Ms Warren said the mother had spoken mostly in broken English, but understood what was happening.

In her professional opinion, Ms Warren said that to determine Shaken Baby Syndrome an X-ray was needed.

“I would think it was part of the procedure … that is where I would see it,” she said.

She said she had no recollection of the nurse speaking to the mother while he was checking the twin babies’ vital signs before seeing the doctor. She also does not recall either baby being X-rayed during the appointment and is unsure whether the doctor was told of the alleged shaking incident.

She was asked whether she was present during the check-up, to which she said she had left the room when the doctor arrived, but remained outside the door.

Ms Warren also said that although the babies were crying, they were consolable and she did not think they were in serious distress.

She said a follow-up appointment had been made by Children and Youth Services for July 19, four days after the twins’ examination. The inquest is not finished.