Couple Sentenced To 25 Years For Neglect of Infant
The Tribunal de Juicio de San José yesterday sentenced a couple to 25 years prison for causing the death of their two month old child.

Authorities said the infant, who suffered from Down Syndrome, died of blows and bruises, in various parts of the body, following an examination by the forensic medical examiner.

Marcos Guevara, the father and Ana Lucia Cascante, the mother, were found to have neglected the child due to his special condition, medical experts giving testimony at trial that the infant had been a victim of passive aggression.

The death occurred in July 2005 when the mother found the child dead. The father immediately called authorities, who immediately suspected neglect and abuse, confirming their suspicions during their investigation that the infant had not had any vaccinations, weighed a little less than two kilos (a little over 4 pounds) and that the fractures and bruises had been caused during the last weeks of the infants life.

The death of the infant was attributed to an infection caused by the fractures in five ribs while the parents ignored the cries of the infant who had to have suffered tremendous pain until death.