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EDLINGTON BABY DEATH TRIAL: 'Toddler's spine snapped in two'
A MALNOURISHED and dehydrated Doncaster toddler died after her father deliberately snapped her spine in two, a murder trial has heard.
James William Frederick Howson, 25, of Nelson Road, Edlington, killed 16-month-old daughter Amy by holding her backwards over his knee and using extreme force to break her back, a jury at Leeds Crown Court was told.
The infant was taken to Doncaster Royal Infirmary on the morning of December 23 last year but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
A post mortem examination found she had also suffered serious head injuries which contributed to her death.
Gary Burrell QC, prosecuting, told the court X-rays showed at least six fractures to Amy's limbs which appeared to have been caused up to eight weeks before her death, as well as a broken rib and extensive bruising.
Howson is alleged to have told police Amy sustained some of her injuries after falling out of bed and hitting her head and that he nursed her in his arms in a chair downstairs.
He said he fell asleep with the child in his arms and awoke to find her unconscious and had alerted her grandfather.
Howson blamed other injuries on the family's pet dog, a Staffordshire bull terrier and other incidents around the home.
Pathologists gave the cause of death as the spinal injury along with a serious head injury.
The child was also found to be "seriously under-nourished and dehydrated", the jury heard.
Howson has pleaded not guilty to murder and two counts of cruelty.
Amy's mother, Tina Hunt, 26, of the same address, earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of allowing the death of a child and child cruelty.
The trial continues.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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