Murder trial told of horrific injuries that led to baby J's death

THE trial has begun of a Tilbury mother accused of killing her baby.

Joanne Mallinder, 37, is in the dock at Basildon Crown Court, which heard details of horrific injuries sustained by the tot aged three months, which contributed to his death 13 months later.

The court heard that Mallinder's partner Gareth Cox alerted emergency services on February 13 2006 to the child's condition. The critically ill child, called Jack, was rushed to Basildon Hospital before being transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital where doctors discovered he had suffered "severe and irreversible brain damage, along with six fractures to his arms and legs."

Mr Stephen Harvey QC told the jury: "The prosecution case is that these life threatening injuries, brain damage, and most certainly one of the fractures he sustained were inflicted by Mrs Mallinder."

Mallinder was initially accused of assaulting Jack but when he died 13-months later on March 20 last year, the defendant was charged with his murder.

Mr Harvey QC said doctors investigated the possibility of medical causes for Jack's injuries but none were found and the prosecution case was that Mallinder caused the injuries.

He said the head injury, which is often referred to as "shaken baby syndrome" was caused by trauma to the head, which could have been caused by the child having been violently shaken or its head hitting against a surface.

He added: "Joanne Mallinder for some reason she has yet to speak of, behaved in a terrifying way which led to her baby's death."

Mallinder, of Brisbane House, Leicester Road,, is being represented by defence counsel Sally O'Neill QC, the prosecutor in the case of Baby P, the 17-month-old child who suffered a catalogue of injuries before his death. Mallinder denies murder.

The trial continues.