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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Mother weeps over boy's injuries | Mother weeps over boy's injuries |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A mother accused of killing her son broke down in tears as a jury was told the boy had suffered about 40 injuries. | A mother accused of killing her son broke down in tears as a jury was told the boy had suffered about 40 injuries. |
| Heather Boyd, 23, wept as a pathologist described the bruises and scratches he found on the body of Brandon Muir. | Heather Boyd, 23, wept as a pathologist described the bruises and scratches he found on the body of Brandon Muir. |
| The 23-month-old also had four cracked ribs, thought to be about three weeks old, and a ruptured intestine. | The 23-month-old also had four cracked ribs, thought to be about three weeks old, and a ruptured intestine. |
| Ms Boyd denies the culpable homicide of her son by failing to get him medical treatment. Robert Cunningham denies murdering the boy in Dundee last March. | Ms Boyd denies the culpable homicide of her son by failing to get him medical treatment. Robert Cunningham denies murdering the boy in Dundee last March. |
| The jury at the High Court in Glasgow was shown photographs of Brandon's body at the post-mortem examination. | The jury at the High Court in Glasgow was shown photographs of Brandon's body at the post-mortem examination. |
| Consultant paediatric pathologist Dr Alan Howatson listed 36 external areas that were marked, some of which included more than one injury.Heather Boyd started to cry as the injuries were described | Consultant paediatric pathologist Dr Alan Howatson listed 36 external areas that were marked, some of which included more than one injury.Heather Boyd started to cry as the injuries were described |
| The court heard that Brandon had bruises and cuts on his head, shoulder blades, abdomen, back, hands and abrasions on the inside of his eye. | The court heard that Brandon had bruises and cuts on his head, shoulder blades, abdomen, back, hands and abrasions on the inside of his eye. |
| The doctor said behind a "curved" area of bruising at the pelvis area were about eight abrasions. | The doctor said behind a "curved" area of bruising at the pelvis area were about eight abrasions. |
| He added that some marks may have happened during attempts to resuscitate Brandon when he was rushed to hospital. | He added that some marks may have happened during attempts to resuscitate Brandon when he was rushed to hospital. |
| The trial was adjourned for a time after Ms Boyd broke down during the evidence. A juror had also earlier become distressed while viewing the pictures of Brandon. | The trial was adjourned for a time after Ms Boyd broke down during the evidence. A juror had also earlier become distressed while viewing the pictures of Brandon. |
| Prosecutor James Wolffe QC later asked Dr Howatson: "What would have caused the injuries to the ribs?" | Prosecutor James Wolffe QC later asked Dr Howatson: "What would have caused the injuries to the ribs?" |
| Dr Howatson replied: "Only a force to the fracture site." He said he could not be certain if this happened at the same time Brandon's intestine was ruptured. | Dr Howatson replied: "Only a force to the fracture site." He said he could not be certain if this happened at the same time Brandon's intestine was ruptured. |
| The doctor added: "All the injuries identified are consistent with blunt force trauma." | The doctor added: "All the injuries identified are consistent with blunt force trauma." |
| The trial had earlier heard that Brandon was pronounced dead at 0506 GMT on 16 March. | |
| But, Dr Howatson agreed with Ms Boyd's QC Donald Findlay that it could not be stated exactly when the child actually died. | |
| Mr Findlay also asked: "None of the bruises or abrasions were life threatening?" | |
| The doctor replied: "Yes, that is correct." | |
| Deny charges | Deny charges |
| Mr Cunningham, 23, is accused of murder by assaulting Brandon so severely last 15 March at two flats in Balunie Crescent that he died the following day in hospital. | Mr Cunningham, 23, is accused of murder by assaulting Brandon so severely last 15 March at two flats in Balunie Crescent that he died the following day in hospital. |
| Ms Boyd is accused of culpable homicide by failing to get him treatment after the alleged attacks. | Ms Boyd is accused of culpable homicide by failing to get him treatment after the alleged attacks. |
| 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. |