THE grandmother of a baby who died from horrific injuries has told an inquest she never reported the abuse because it was the mother's responsibility.
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''It's not my baby,'' grandmother Hellen Dykstra told the inquest into the November 2012 death of 45-day-old Bjay Johnstone.
''It's her baby.
''She's an adult.''
Being cross-examined by counsel Matthew Verney in Burnie this morning, Ms Dykstra acknowledged she did not tell Child Protection workers or Youth and Family Focus workers of abuse of the baby's mother, Fleur Atkin, or of Bjay, when they visited the Railton home where they were all living.
Mr Verney referred to a visit by YAFF staff on October 23 and put to Ms Dykstra she had the opportunity to tell them Bjay was being hurt by his father, Simon Johnstone.
''They had the opportunity to see what was happening,'' she replied.
''They didn't.
''They would have seen as much as I did.''
Mr Verney said Ms Dykstra was the one living in the home.
The same workers returned on October 30 and Ms Dykstra again had the opportunity to tell them, Mr Verney said.
''That's up to Fleur,'' Ms Dykstra said.
''She's the one being assaulted.
''She's an adult.
''It wasn't me being hit.''
Mr Verney asked her if she believed that relieved her of any responsibility for looking after her grandson.
Ms Dykstra said it did.
Mr Verney referred to Facebook posts by Ms Dykstra referring to what was happening to Bjay.
He asked what her motivation was for posting the material.
''I don't have any family,'' Ms Dykstra replied.
''My family dumped me.
''The only place I have to talk is Facebook.
''I don't have friends either.''
Mr Verney asked if she was posting to try to protect Bjay.
''I dunno,'' she said.
''I can't remember what I was thinking.''
Ms Dykstra agreed she held Ms Atkin responsible for what happened to Bjay.
Mr Verney asked her if she was not just as responsible.
''No, I've been through domestic violence my whole life,'' Ms Dykstra said.
