Baby J murder trial told of a "beautiful, healthy child"

A FOSTER carer who looked after a baby who is alleged to have died after being violently assaulted by his mother was a beautiful healthy boy.

Diane Bird said baby Jack was placed in her care a week after he was born at Basildon Hospital on November 15 2005 and remained at her home for four weeks before being returned to his parents Joanne Mallinder, 37, and Gareth Cox, 32.

Mrs Bird, a specialist foster carer employed by Thurrock Council, accepted she was "quite taken" by Jack who had blond hair, blue eyes.

She described him as being healthy and alert and said there were "absolutely" no health issues she was aware of.

Mrs Bird told the jury at Basildon Crown Court today that she first met Mallinder and Mr Cox at the council's civic offices on November 28 2005 and it was clear they wanted him back.

She said: "I think they were keen to take him home and they could not understand why they could not take him home and there was going to have to be an assessment."

On cross examination by Sally O'Neill QC, defence counsel for Mallinder, Mrs Bird said she could not comment on whether the defendant's comment was just a joke.

Carolyn Payne, a social worker based at Great Ormond Street Hospital, also gave evidence.

Mrs Payne said when she met Mallinder and Mr Cox at the hospital the day after three-month-old Jack was found unconscious at their home in Falcon Avenue, Grays, on February 13 2006, Mr Cox told her they were "in shock" the defendant kept blaming herself.

Mrs Payne said Mallinder told her she was bulimic and on medication for depression.

Mallinder, of Leicester Road, Tilbury, denies murdering Jack, who suffered severe brain damage and six fractures to his arms and legs and later died on March 20 last year.

The trial continues.