Teenager Who Fractured Baby’s Skull with Fridge Handle in Brutal Home Invasion Spared Jail in Shocking Sentence
- A 17-year-old’s brutal attack on a mother and her two-month-old baby in Alice Springs has left the community reeling.
- The teenager used a metal fridge handle to fracture the baby’s skull and cause a brain bleed in the horrific home invasion.
- Despite the severity of the crime, the teenager has been handed a two-year suspended sentence, sparking outrage among locals.
In a shocking display of violence, a 17-year-old and his 16-year-old accomplice broke into a Bokhara St home in Larapinta on December 11, 2024, leaving a mother and her two-month-old baby fighting for their lives.
Nicole Siguenza was cradling her baby Antonia when the two masked youths lunged at her, with the 17-year-old targeting the mother-of-five with a blunt weapon. The blow deflected off Siguenza and hit Antonia, causing the baby to suffer a fractured skull and brain bleed.
Both Siguenza and her baby were airlifted to Adelaide’s Women and Children’s Hospital, with Antonia in a critical condition. The family was separated, with a GoFundMe page set up to help with the burden.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, served 10 months in custody before being released under a community corrections order. On September 16, Justice Sonia Brownhill ruled the teenager was eligible for rehabilitation, ordering him to serve his sentence at a facility in Alice Springs.
In a stark warning, the court heard the teenager will spend 12 hours a week working on a “project” to rehabilitate. However, the NT Department of Public Prosecutions confirmed it would not appeal the sentence, despite considering the option for weeks.
The second teenager, now aged 17, was jailed for two years in August for his role in the home invasion. He did not strike the mother or child but had a lengthy criminal history, including absconding from bail while awaiting trial.
Both teenagers pleaded guilty to theft, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, and unlawfully causing serious harm. The community is still reeling from the shocking attack, with many calling for tougher sentencing for violent crimes.