A SOUTHERN Tasmanian babysitter was this morning sentenced to nine months' imprisonment for assaulting a four-year-old who died in her care.
Liam Robert Osborne died while attending a sleepover at Fiona Maree Garth's Claremont unit with his twin brother in June last year.
The 38-year-old was initially charged with murder but the charge was replaced in May with one of assault as the cause of Liam's death could not be determined.
The Supreme Court in Hobart heard today that Liam was posthumously diagnosed with a heart condition and asthma which could have contributed to his death.
The court heard Ms Garth struck Liam five times with her hand and once with an egg flip when she became frustrated with him messing around in the bath.
Ms Garth was taken into custody over the murder charge in August last year where she remained until the charge was dropped, thus serving the nine-month period.
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