This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7897085.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Accused 'tried to save dying boy' | Accused 'tried to save dying boy' |
(about 2 hours 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. | 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." | 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. | 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 claimed he "tapped" the child on the hand and told him to stand at a wall. |
Later in the evening Brandon began vomiting brown liquid, which Ms Boyd put down to a 24-hour bug, he told police. | 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. | 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 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." I understand what you are saying that his stomach burst, but I honestly don't know how it happened Robert Cunningham | |
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. | 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. | 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. | 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?" | 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. | 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. | He said Brandon used to fall all the time. |
Det Sgt Gall asked: "Did he hurt himself that Saturday?" | Det Sgt Gall asked: "Did he hurt himself that Saturday?" |
Mr Cunningham replied: "I honestly don't know." | Mr Cunningham replied: "I honestly don't know." |
The trial also heard from two other detectives involved in the murder investigation. | |
Det Sgt Judith Clark described how she broke the news to Ms Boyd and Mr Cunningham that Brandon had died. | |
She said: "They were obviously upset. Heather burst into tears and appeared quite shocked. Robert put his head into the covers and was sobbing into the mattress." | |
Her colleague Det Con Paul Romanowski said he took a statement from Kelly Marie Parkin, a friend of Ms Boyd, who has since died. | |
Miss Parkin said Ms Boyd used heroin as she knew she got "stressed out due to the bairns." | |
She said she had been working as a prostitute in Dundee on the evening of 15 March when she met Ms Boyd and they later bought heroin. | |
In the statement, she added: "Heather was worried about bruises on Brandon that he had not had before. | |
"It was on his belly. I did not ask how bad it was. She gave no indication that it happened that day. She said that she had not caused the bruises." | |
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. |