Baby Zayden Veal died when he reached the Bendigo Health emergency department. This page contains two accounts of what happened the day the infant died. One is from Zayden's former stepfather, the other is from the twin brother of Zayden's accused killer, Harley Hicks. Both were tended as evidence in court.
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I went to the toilet while Casey went and checked on Zayden. That’s when I heard Casey scream. I have never heard her scream like that in my life, it was like pure terror.
I rushed to help her and met her halfway outside Zayden’s bedroom. I noticed Zayden was black and blue and bloodied up. I immediately grabbed Zayden from Casey with one hand under his back and one hand under his head, just like I would always pick him up. I felt that he was really cold, like a bag of peas.
His arms limped either side of my hand when I held him. Casey immediately called an ambulance. The call taker assisted Casey on the phone.
I took him into the lounge room and put him under our wall heater. That’s when I started CPR on him. That’s when I also noticed the inside area of his bottom lip all cut and bloodied. After a little while, Casey took over CPR from me.
I could see that we had lost Zayden. By this, I mean I could see that he had died. Casey didn’t want to believe me and kept doing CPR.
I recall seeing Harley that day, we met at the corner of Dad’s street. He told me he was leaving that day. This was the Friday, 15 June. Harley had black hair.
He was that he was leaving with Martina and her child to go to Gisborne. This was to get away from the heat, by this Harley meant get away from the police.
I told him to go and see dad and give him dad a hug because it always makes me sad when he says he is going away.
