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Bruises found on dead boy's body | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Doctors examining the dead body of a Dundee toddler found extensive bruising and scratching, a court has heard. | |
Brandon Muir, who was 23-months old, also looked dehydrated and his eyes were sunken into his head. | |
Robert Cunningham, 23, denies murdering the boy. Brandon's mother Heather Boyd, also 23, denies culpable homicide. | |
The High Court in Edinburgh also heard that the pair could have been under the influence of drugs at the hospital where the boy died on 16 March. | |
Brandon was pronounced dead at Ninewells Hospital after falling ill at his home in Balunie Crescent. | |
Dr Rosalie Wilkie, 56, told the jury: "He had three small bruises on his face, which appeared to be not absolutely fresh. He had some scratches on his nose and fingers and extensive bruising on his body." | |
The doctor added that the bruising found was "unusual" for a child to have "in an innocent point of view". | |
She also told the court his stomach area was "firm" on examination. | |
Dr Wilkie said: "He apparently had a history that he had been vomiting brown fluid for several hours and had been sleepy the day before. | |
"This made me concerned something serious had happened in the child's abdomen." | |
Dr Wilkie met with Ms Boyd and Mr Cunningham soon after the child was pronounced dead. If you see pin-point pupils, I think there may be some effect from opiate drugs, but it is non specific Dr Rosalie Wilkie She found Ms Boyd had "pin-point pupils" and "slurred speech". | |
Dr Wilkie told the jury that the mother's answers were "exceedingly vague" and did not give a "very clear picture" of what happened before Brandon was admitted to hospital. | |
She asked about the bruises and was told that Brandon and his sister fought a lot and he scratched himself often. | |
"I gave mum and the partner time to tell me anything else, but nothing was forthcoming," Dr Wilkie said. | |
Prosecutor James Wolffe QC asked could any inference be drawn from the appearance of Ms Boyd's eyes. | |
Dr Wilkie said: "If you see pin-point pupils, I think there may be some effect from opiate drugs, but it is non specific." | |
The doctor also later claimed that Mr Cunningham had "pin-point pupils" when she met him that morning. | |
Earlier, the trial was told that a man was heard shouting loudly in Ms Boyd's flat the day it is alleged the toddler was attacked. | |
Marlene Watt, a neighbour, said: "It was not right, it was really strong. It was different and really loud. It would not stop and just kept going on and on." | |
The 39-year-old said that "nothing was coming back at him". | |
The court also heard that Ms Boyd had once told a child that she would sell him. | |
Joseph Hepburn told the court that he was a regular visitor to the home of one of Ms Boyd's neighbours. | |
Mr Wolffe asked if he had heard anything at the flat: "Just Heather shouting at the bairn, more or less." | |
Mr Wolffe asked: "How did you know it was the child?" | Mr Wolffe asked: "How did you know it was the child?" |
Mr Hepburn replied: "Things she said. The main one that I remember was the way that she swore at the bairn and [said] that the child was going to be sold." | Mr Hepburn replied: "Things she said. The main one that I remember was the way that she swore at the bairn and [said] that the child was going to be sold." |
Medical help | Medical help |
Mr Cunningham is accused of murder by assaulting Brandon so severely last March at two flats in Balunie Crescent that he died the following day in hospital. | Mr Cunningham is accused of murder by assaulting Brandon so severely last March at two flats in Balunie Crescent that he died the following day in hospital. |
Ms Boyd is charged with culpable homicide by failing to get her son medical help as a result of Mr Cunningham's alleged assault. | Ms Boyd is charged with culpable homicide by failing to get her son medical help as a result of Mr Cunningham's alleged assault. |
The pair also face a charge of repeatedly and wilfully ill-treating Brandon between October 2007 and March 2008. | The pair also face a charge of repeatedly and wilfully ill-treating Brandon between October 2007 and March 2008. |
Ms Boyd is accused of assaulting her son at Douglas Family Centre in Dundee on 5 March last year. | Ms Boyd is accused of assaulting her son at Douglas Family Centre in Dundee on 5 March last year. |
Mr Cunningham is also charged with repeatedly and wilfully ill-treating another young boy at properties in Dundee between October 2007 and March 2008. | Mr Cunningham is also charged with repeatedly and wilfully ill-treating another young boy at properties in Dundee between October 2007 and March 2008. |
The pair deny all charges. | The pair deny all charges. |
The trial, before Judge John Morris QC, continues. | The trial, before Judge John Morris QC, continues. |