Dead baby 'may have been struck'

The court heard Kyle had internal bleeding

A baby allegedly murdered by his stepfather may have been punched or kicked in the stomach before he died, a court has been told.

Dr James Grieve described eight-month-old Kyle Mutch's injuries as a trial was shown pictures of the dead boy taken at the post mortem examination.

Mohammad Ullah, 25, denies murdering his wife Karen Mutch's son Kyle in Turriff, Aberdeenshire, in January.

He has lodged two special defences at the High Court in Forfar.

The jury heard that about a quarter of Kyle's total blood was found free inside him, the sort of major loss normally caused by stabbings or car crashes.

THE CHARGES Mohammad Ullah denies striking Kyle Mutch on the body and murdering him on 30 or 31 January He denies assaulting a four-year-old boy on 29 January He denies attempting to pervert the course of justice He has lodged two special defences The first is that if there was a murder, it was committed by Marlane Low The second is one of alibi, claiming he was at the Cafe Shomi in Turriff between 1630 BST and 2230 BST on 30 January

Dr Grieve, of Aberdeen University's forensic medicine department, said it may have been consistent with a single punch or kick in the stomach.

He told advocate depute Mark Stewart, prosecuting, that pictures taken at the post mortem showed Kyle's bruising.

Trial judge Lord Carloway warned the jury: "You are going to be shown some of the photos of the baby in the mortuary, obviously these are of a distressing nature, you do need to see them I am afraid."

Dr Grieve said bruises such as those found on Kyle's chest were caused by "blunt force" over a relatively large area rather than a sharp force.

Asked about the possible cause for such injuries, Dr Grieve said: "A punch from a fist, a hand, a stick, a foot, a kick or a stamp."

He added: "A fist, a toe, a heel, part of a foot would be perfect in that situation.

"I am saying this could be caused by one blow, but they perfectly well could be caused by two."

'Not accidental'

Asked by the advocate depute if they could be accidental, Dr Grieve said: "No, not in a child who is not toddling and who has not been in a motor car."

Mr Ullah has denied assaulting and murdering Kyle Mutch.

He has also pleaded not guilty to assaulting a four-year-old boy and to trying to pervert the course of justice by phoning his wife while he was on bail.

He is alleged to have offered her £5000 to testify falsely that she had seen another woman assaulting Kyle.

Mr Ullah, described as a prisoner in Aberdeen, has lodged two special defences, one of incrimination, the other of alibi.

The trial continues.