Doctors instantly suspected dying boy's bruises

Doctors treating a dying young boy were immediately suspicious of bruising to his head, a murder trial has heard.

Charlie Roberts was 22 months old when he collapsed at his home in Darlington in January and died in hospital the following day, Teesside Crown Court heard.

His mother's partner Christopher Stockton, 38, denies murder and child cruelty, while his mother, Paula Roberts, 41, denies child neglect.

Mr Stockton told paramedics Charlie had choked on something but scans to his head revealed major brain injuries, the court heard.

The trial has previously heard friends, family and nursery staff noticed bruises on Charlie multiple times in the months before his death.

On the morning of 12 January, just 18 minutes after Charlie had been left in his sole care, Mr Stockton called 999 to say the toddler had collapsed, the court heard.

Charlie was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where doctors instantly suspected his injuries were non-accidental, the court heard.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Victoria Thomas said Charlie had had a cardiac arrest at his home on Frosterley Drive and by the afternoon "it was clear he wasn't going to survive his injuries", with Charlie dying the following day.

She said as soon as he arrived at the hospital, medical staff immediately had "significant concerns" and were "very worried somebody had harmed Charlie".

In particular, Dr Thomas said Charlie had a severe bruise to his left ear which was an area of the body that was "extremely unlikely" to have been injured accidentally.

"It raised very significant concern of deliberate injury," she said.

Dr Thomas said scans revealed severe bleeding in Charlie's brain and eyes, a "strong marker for non-accidental injury".

She said the "most likely" cause of the fatal brain bleed was an "inflicted injury" and the only time she had seen such injuries in non-accidental cases was in "high speed" car crashes.

The trial previously heard Mr Stockton and Ms Roberts had been in a relationship since January 2023 and he moved into her home days before the attack.

Mr Stockton had been awake until 05:00 GMT on 12 January playing video games and watching TV, the court heard.

Ms Roberts left home for an optician appointment at about 08:45, with Mr Stockton calling emergency services shortly after 09:00.

The trial continues.

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