Mother denies 'sacrificing' baby

The mother of an abused baby boy, who died from injuries including a broken back, has denied she "sacrificed" her son for her new lover, jurors heard.

The 17-month-old suffered a catalogue of injuries and died in August 2007.

His mother told the Old Bailey she had not noticed his injuries and denied she had chosen her new boyfriend over the child, from a previous relationship.

The mother, 27, her boyfriend, 32, and Jason Owen, 36, from Bromley, south-east London, deny murdering the infant.

A court order prevents the identification of the baby's mother and her boyfriend.

Fractured ribs

Prosecutors claim the boy was beaten during the last eight months of his life.

A post-mortem examination revealed numerous injuries including eight fractured ribs and extensive bruising.

Timothy Roberts QC, representing Mr Owen, asked the mother: "In your jottings, you spoke about a new life and a new love and you hoped it would last.

"Having sacrificed your son to this new life, this new love, you should not lose everything?"

When the mother denied this, Mr Roberts said: "Do you still blind yourself to everything?"

The mother said she only realised her son had died from injuries, rather than an illness, when she read a story covering his death on Teletext.

The trial continues.