An inquest into the suspicious death of a two-month-old baby has been halted so Canberra prosecutors can consider laying criminal charges.
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On Tuesday, Coroner Bernadette Boss, pictured, found there were reasonable grounds to believe an indictable offence had been committed.
Dr Boss suspended the inquest while she referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider the prospect of pursuing a criminal case.
Paramedics rushed to a Gordon home about 5am on the morning of August 18, 2012, to find the child, whose name has been suppressed, was not breathing, had a slow heart rate and would not respond to stimulus.
She died at Canberra Hospital that afternoon.
Intensive-care paramedic Warwick Finch told the inquiry he noticed bruising on the underside of child's jaw and on the front of both shins as he fought to save her life. But the bruising was not present during a health check by nurses the previous day.
Mr Finch said he was told the injuries were caused by a fall off the lounge while the girl was seated with her father, but could not recall whether the explanation was provided at the scene or by the triple-0 operator while on route.
The court heard the girl spent much of her short life in hospital after she was born prematurely in June 2012.
Nurses reported the child had gained weight and showed no signs of injury or bruising during a health check on August 17.
On Tuesday, the inquest heard from a medical expert who said the baby died of brain trauma, caused by significant head and neck injuries.
She said the injuries could be caused by acceleration and deceleration, such as being dropped or shaken.
The inquest was also played a triple-0 call in which the father said he may have burped the girl too hard.
A police officer told the inquiry that suspicion immediately fell on the parents after the death.
Listening devices were installed in the home within a fortnight, but no charges have been laid.
But Dr Boss said on Tuesday she had a reasonable suspicion an indictable offence had been committed.
The law requires the coroner write to the DPP once reasonable suspicion has been established.
The inquest will remain on hold pending the outcome of prosecutors' deliberations, as the coronial inquiry can only resume after the DPP indicates it will not prosecute, or three months elapses without charges being laid.
