Jury decides child minder's fate

Jury decides child minder's fate

Tina McLeod denies the charges

The trial of a child minder accused of murdering a toddler in her care has heard there is "no doubt" she is guilty.

The claim was made by the Crown during closing speeches in the trial of Tina McLeod, 40, accused of murdering one-year-old Alexander Graham.

But the defence at the High Court in Edinburgh argued Mrs McLeod had no reason to harm the boy and said medical opinion was divided over what caused his injuries.

Mrs McLeod, of Craigleith Hill Avenue, Edinburgh, denies murdering Alexander on 26 July 2001.

'No question'

She is accused of repeatedly shaking the boy and striking his head against an unknown blunt object or surface.

For the prosecution, Advocate Depute Gerald Hanretty, QC, said Mrs McLeod allegedly asked hospital staff: "Do you think I could have shaken him too hard?"

"There's no question but that the accused killed Alexander, there's no doubt," he told the jury.

"As unpalatable as that may be, as unpleasant to think of as that may be, that's my submission."

Medical evidence

Defence Advocate Ruth Anderson QC said Mrs McLeod had no reason to harm Alexander and that the prosecution relied entirely on medical evidence.

She said: "In all the evidence, there was not a single hint... as to why this woman would murder the happy, easy, loveable child that was in her care."

The death of a child was a tragedy beyond words, but the conviction of an innocent woman would be another tragedy, she added.

The trial, before Judge Roderick Macdonald QC, continues on Friday before the jury is expected to be sent out to consider its verdict.