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Accused 'tried to save dying boy' | Accused 'tried to save dying boy' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A couple accused of killing a Dundee toddler battled to save him, a court has heard. | A couple accused of killing a Dundee toddler battled to save him, a court has heard. |
Brandon Muir, who was 23-months-old, died on 16 March last year. | Brandon Muir, who was 23-months-old, died on 16 March last year. |
The High Court in Glasgow was shown a police interview where Robert Cunningham, 23, spoke of the efforts to try to revive Brandon. | The High Court in Glasgow was shown a police interview where Robert Cunningham, 23, spoke of the efforts to try to revive Brandon. |
Mr Cunningham denies murdering the toddler. The boy's mother, Heather Boyd, denies culpable homicide by failing to get him medical help. | Mr Cunningham denies murdering the toddler. The boy's mother, Heather Boyd, denies culpable homicide by failing to get him medical help. |
Mouth to mouth | Mouth to mouth |
In the police interview, Mr Cunningham was asked what happened on 15 March, the day Brandon became sick. | |
He described how he gave the child breakfast that morning and that he was "perfect." | |
Mr Cunningham said that later in the day he twice gave the boy a telling off for trying to climb onto a window ledge. | |
He claimed he "tapped" the child on the hand and told him to stand at a wall. | |
He added: "I just told him to stay there, he was crying but that was only because I shouted at him." | |
I understand what you are saying that his stomach burst, but I honestly don't know how it happened Robert Cunningham | |
Later in the evening Brandon began vomiting brown liquid, which Ms Boyd put down to a 24-hour bug, he told police. | |
Brandon was later placed on the couch where he fell asleep and Mr Cunningham then also dozed off. | |
He was woken by Ms Boyd's screams. | |
He said: "Brandon was lifted up and I put my ear to his head. Didn't feel nothing, didn't hear nothing." | |
They dialled 999 and Mr Cunningham explained how he and Ms Boyd "tried and tried" giving the boy mouth to mouth before paramedics rushed him to hospital. | |
He said he had been giving mouth to mouth for about five to 10 minutes. | |
Brandon was pronounced dead at Ninewells Hospital having suffered fatal acute peritonitis caused by a ruptured intestine brought on by blunt force abdominal trauma. | |
Det Sgt Colin Gall asked: "You understand what caused Brandon's death?" | |
Mr Cunningham told him: "I understand what you are saying that his stomach burst, but I honestly don't know how it happened. | |
He said Brandon used to fall all the time. | |
Det Sgt Gall asked: "Did he hurt himself that Saturday?" | |
Mr Cunningham replied: "I honestly don't know." | |
Assaults | Assaults |
Mr Cunningham 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 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 and Ms Boyd, 23, also face a charge of repeatedly and wilfully ill-treating Brandon between October 2007 and March 2008. | Mr Cunningham and Ms Boyd, 23, 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. |