Carer 'did not see baby injuries'

A man denied any knowledge of how a 10-week-old baby boy came to suffer catastrophic injuries akin to being in a car crash, a court heard.

Nicholas Muhanza said he did not realise the child was injured, even though it had multiple fractures, had lost his sight and was brain-damaged.

Muhanza, 22, denies neglect. Chantelle Raschid, 20, of Openshaw, Manchester, admits assault and neglect.

The boy was in their care at the time the injuries were allegedly inflicted.

The boy, whose identity is protected by law and is known as Child A, received his injuries on three separate occasions, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Severe disabilities

Muhanza, who is Rwandan, came to live in Manchester seven years ago.

He told his defence counsel, Philip Curran, that the days leading up to Child A's admission to hospital on 3 July 2007 were uneventful.

Mr Muhanza said that that day before he was left alone with Child A from lunchtime and that they both fell asleep until the evening.

Later, the child appeared unwell, he said, and an ambulance was called.

Mr Muhanza said: "I didn't know that he was seriously injured... I didn't think anything was seriously wrong."

He said Raschid told him the child was "fine".

The prosecution alleges that either or both of the defendants caused the injuries deliberately.

Prosecutor Neil Fryman told the jury last week that the head injuries alone were consistent with a road accident or falling from a window.

Paediatrician Dr Hilary Smith told the jury Child A had severe disabilities and was likely to be dependent on others for the rest of his life.

The trial continues.