A PROSECUTOR has told a jury in her closing speech that two-year-old Madison Horn was "brutally attacked in her own home".
Advocate depute Jennifer Bain said there was a compelling circumstantial case against Kevin Park, 27, who denies murdering the child in Kelty, Fife, on April 20.
At the High Court in Glasgow, Miss Bain said: "On Easter Sunday Madison Horn was brutally attacked in her home and she was unable to defend herself. She was struck again and again until she was covered in bruises , her skull was fractured and she had significant internal injuries. These injuries were unsurvivable."
Miss Bain added: "Unless Kevin Park is an incredibly unlucky babysitter he caused these injuries."
It is alleged Mr Park pulled Madison's hair, lifted her up and repeatedly struck her head against a wall, bit her on the body and repeatedly struck her on the head and body by means unknown to the prosecutor.
The court has heard Madison, who died from blunt force trauma to her head and abdomen, had 65 separate injuries, including a fractured skull and tears to her liver.
Miss Bain told the jury medical experts claimed significant force would have been required to inflict some of the injuries.
She spoke of two dents in the hall of the house which Madison's mother, Ann Marie White, said had not been there before she left the home about 2pm to attend a friend's birthday celebration in Cowdenbeath.
Miss Bain said one of Madison's hairs was found in the cracked plaster in one of the indentations and her DNA was on both dents.
Defence QC Mark Stewart urged the jury to acquit Mr Park.
He described the forensic investigation of the house where Madison died in the case as "substandard" and said there was "a huge question mark" over it.
Mr Stewart also attacked evidence given by a doctor and two pathologists during the trial, saying they were dealing in speculation.
He said: "There is not one iota of evidence to suggest an attack on the child. The evidence in this case at every stage has flaws and is open to criticism."
Mr Stewart said two unusual incidents happened to Madison that day. The first he said was about 10am or 11am when a walking machine fell on her, injuring her stomach, and the second when a bed she was jumping on collapsed and she fell from it.
He added: "I don't think it is in dispute these two incidents happened where there was potential for an abdominal injury and potential for a head injury."
The QC criticised the forensic team for not examining the walking machine or the furniture in Madison's bedroom.
He added: "The Crown has not proved beyond a reasonable doubt this child was assaulted or assaulted by Kevin Park."
The case continues.
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