A TWO-YEAR-OLD had 65 separate injuries and died from blunt force trauma to her head and abdomen, a pathologist has told a murder trial.
Dr Dawn Penman, a consultant paediatric pathologist, was giving evidence at the trial of Kevin Park, 27, who is accused of killing his former partner's child.
Park denies murdering Madison Horn at a property in Kelty, Fife, on April 20.
The pathologist was asked by advocate depute Jennifer Bain, prosecuting, what caused Madison's death. Dr Penman replied: "In my opinion Madison's death was due to traumatic injury. She died from blunt force head and abdominal trauma."
Madison, who was being looked after by Park while her mother went out with friends, was taken to hospital just after 6pm and died there hours later.
Dr Penman carried out the post-mortem examination the next day.
Ms Bain asked Dr Penman: "Did you detail each injury, and there are 65 in total, is that right?" and Dr Penman said: "Yes."
The jury at the High Court in Glasgow heard that there were 31 injuries to Madison's head and neck area.
There was bruising to both her ears and Dr Penman said this was an unusual place to be injured.
She said: "This was in an inaccessible area and would suggest to me there has been gripping or pinching of the ears."
The court heard there was also bruising to her head, and that hair was missing.
Dr Penman said: "It would make you think the hair had been pulled out by force or trauma. It could be caused by the head against a rough surface, or this could have been caused by the hair being pulled out."
The court was told that as well as carrying out the post-mortem examination, Dr Penman had visited Madison's home.
She was asked by Ms Bain: "Were you shown damage to a wall?" and replied: "Yes."
Ms Bain went on: " On one of these indentations a hair of Madison Horn was found and in each indentation her DNA. If Madison's head had impacted with these areas could that have caused these injuries?"
Dr Penman told the court: "That is the potential cause of these injuries."
The jury also heard that one of the bruises found on Madison's head had a cross pattern on it. When asked what could have caused this, Dr Penman said: "Perhaps the sole of a trainer."
The pathologist was shown two pool cues - one broken - taken from the property and asked if something like that could have caused a long, thin injury found on Madison's thigh. She replied: "That could have caused the mark."
Asked her opinion about four small round bruises on Madison's thighs, the pathologist said: "It makes you think of the potential of fingertips. It could be pinching or gripping."
Dr Penman said there were no defensive injuries to Madison's hands or arms.
She said: "It's not something we see often with children. Children don't appear to know they should defend themselves."
Madison suffered a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, tears to her liver, bruising to her head, legs and buttocks as well a possible bite mark to her leg.
Park claims she suffered her injuries after a bed on which she was jumping collapsed and she fell.
When asked by Ms Bain if a fall from a bed could account for all the injuries suffered by Madison, Dr Penman replied: "I think that scenario would have caused some of the injuries, but I think it is unlikely it would have caused the skull fracture. I don't think a fall like that can explain all the injuries Madison had."
The trial before judge Michael O'Grady, QC, continues.
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