Doncaster toddler allegedly murdered by his mother and her partner had suffered multiple fractures
A deceased toddler who was allegedly murdered by his mother and her partner had suffered multiple fractures, according to an expert.
A Sheffield Crown Court trial has heard how Sarah O’Brien, aged 33, of Bosworth Road, Doncaster, and her partner Martin Currie, aged 36, of no fixed abode, have denied murdering Ms O’Brien’s two-year-old son Keigan O’Brien in January after he died from head injuries.
Professor David Mangham, who is a consultant pathologist, told the court today, October 14, that Keigan had suffered fractures to his spine, ribs and wrist weeks before his death.
He added: “Based on the number of fractures - their different ages, the sites affected and the types of fractures - the constellation is typical of non-accidental injury.”
His findngs included a compressed vertebrae and three fracrured vertebrae and one fracture was deemed to have occurred between six-and-16 weeks prior to death and the two other fractures were believed to have occurred between eight-to-16 weeks prior to death.
Professor Mangham said these fractures were consistent with compression, crushing or bending of the spine often seen with whiplash.
He added fractures in two right ribs and a partial fracture of a third and fractures to three left ribs had occurred two-to-four weeks before death.
Professor Mangham said evidence suggested the rib fractures were caused by a chest compression and despite Keigan undergoing CPR he said there was no evidence of more recent fractures.
He found haemorrhaging of the wrist with two fractures of the radius and ulna and indicated these had occurred up to 12 hours prior to the police’s involvement. Professor Mangham said this injury occurs from pulling apart such as swinging or twisting.
Christopher Tehrani, defending Martin Currie, questioned whether a lack of vitamins and protein could affect the timing of the healing process but Prof Mangham said that would only affect the quality of the healing.
Prof Mangham said there was no evidence of underlying bone disease and he had assumed Keigan was healthy.
Sarah O’Brien and Martin Currie also deny causing cruelty to a child by ill-treatment or neglect, and both face individual counts of causing or allowing the death of a child which they also deny.