Injured boy tube fed in hospital, murder trial told
Craig Rowland is accused of murdering his son Lewis
- Published
A baby, whose father is accused of killing him, had to be fed through a tube in hospital, a trial has heard.
Craig Rowland, 29, of Millington Park in Portadown, County Armagh, is charged with the murder and manslaughter of Lewis Oliver Rowland, who died on 20 October 2018.
Lewis was 13 weeks old when he was admitted to Craigavon Area Hospital with "serious head injuries" in November 2015.
The boy died three years later, in October 2018, after complications arising from surgery.
'Catastrophic' injuries
On Monday, Belfast Crown Court heard from consultant paediatric neurosurgeon, Jayaratnam Jayamohan.
He said the baby suffered 鈥渃atastrophic鈥 injuries and had to be 鈥渇ed by tube鈥 in hospital.
He also said he believes the injuries suffered by Lewis were caused by 鈥渟haking鈥 and possibly by what he described as 鈥渁n impact".
Mr Jayamohan, addressing the jury via video link, added that Lewis suffered 鈥渧ision impairment鈥 from his brain injury.
He also explained that a separate scan revealed 鈥渁 big blood clot鈥 on the child鈥檚 lower spine.
Mr Jayamohan said he did not believe the extent of the injuries could be explained as 鈥渁ccidental鈥.
Asked by a defence lawyer if Lewis was 鈥渧ery ill when taken to hospital鈥, the witness replied: 鈥淗e could have died very easily鈥.
More than 'rough handling'
The trial has also heard from a consultant paediatric radiologist.
Dr Kieran McHugh told the jury that a rib fracture sustained by the baby was consistent with the child's chest being squeezed "severely and inappropriately".
He explained that if the level of squeezing required to break a baby's rib was observed by a member of the public, it would be seen as "highly inappropriate".
When he was asked by a prosecution lawyer if someone might intervene if they observed it, Dr McHugh said: "You would, you should".
The medic also told a defence lawyer that he considered the injury on Lewis to have been "inflicted".
He also said it was caused by "much more than rough handling".
Replying to a query from the judge Mr Justice O'Hara, Dr Mc Hugh explained that the softer formation of a child's rib would be more difficult to break than a more developed and harder adult rib.
The prosecution maintains the child's injuries were "non-accidental". Mr Rowland denies the charges.
Mr Rowland, who is on bail, has previously pleaded guilty to a charge of wilfully neglecting the child.
The baby鈥檚 mother, Laura Graham, has also pleaded guilty to the same charge.
The trial continues.