The parents, who, along with their babies, have name suppression, were charged with neglecting the twins by failing to get medical assistance and treatment for them. Both pleaded guilty.
The babies' father was sentenced to four years and four months jail and their mother to three years and six months jail.
Both appealed their sentences, claiming the starting point of six years was excessive, but their appeals were rejected by justices Tony Randerson, Geoffrey Venning and David Collins in a Court of Appeal decision released today.
The defence counsel for the father of the babies' told the Court of Appeal the man's lesser role in the case of the children was not recognised, while the
mother's defence counsel said the sentencing judge "erred in giving weight to the long-term consequences for the victims [and] had failed to take into account that [the mother] had taken the children to the hospital".
The sentencing judge took into account the report of a paediatrician, who said while the rib, leg and arm fractures would heal without long-term injury, the baby who suffered a skull fracture could suffer ongoing ill-effects. The paediatrician also said both babies could also be more susceptible to impaired cognitive and academic functioning, as well as psychological and development problems, because of the neglect.
Justices Randerson, Venning and Collins said in their report today they were satisfied the starting point was not excessive.
The case involved two young babies, they suffered "moderately serious injuries" and their parents admitted to a "major departure from the standard of care expected of a reasonable person" when they failed to get immediate medical treatment for the babies.
"We agree with the [sentencing] judge that it must have been obvious from the nature of the children's injuries that their pain and suffering could not have gone unnoticed."