Madison Horn death: Court told of 65 separate injuries

Madison Horn died after being taken to hospital with massive brain and internal injuries

Toddler Madison Horn had 65 separate injuries and died from blunt force trauma to her head and abdomen, a court has heard.

Dr Dawn Penman, a consultant paediatric pathologist, was giving evidence at the trial of Kevin Park, 27, who is accused of killing his former lover's child.

Mr Park, 27, denies murdering Madison at the family home in Kelty, Fife on 20 April.

The trial before judge Michael O'Grady continues at the High Court in Glasgow.

The pathologist was asked by advocate depute Jennifer Bain, prosecuting, what the cause of death was and Dr Penman replied: "In my opinion Madison's death was due to traumatic injury.

"She died from blunt force head and abdominal trauma."

Madison, who was being looked after by Mr Park while her mother went out with friends, was rushed to hospital just after 18:00 and died there hours later.

Dr Penman carried out the post-mortem examination the next day.

Miss Bain asked Dr Penman: "Did you detail each injury, and there are 65 in total, is that right, "and Dr Penman said: "Yes."

The jury heard there were 31 injuries to Madison's head and neck area.

There was bruising to both her ears and Dr Penman said this was an unusual place to be injured.

She said: "This was in an inaccessible area and would suggest to me there has been gripping or pinching of the ears."

Wall damage

The court also heard there was bruising to her head and also hair missing.

Dr Penman said: "It would make you think the hair had been pulled out by force or trauma. It could be caused by the head against a rough surface or this could have been caused by the hair being pulled out."

The court was told as well as carrying out the post-mortem examination Dr Penman had visited Madison's home.

She was asked by Miss Bain: "Were you shown damage to a wall," and replied: "Yes"

Miss Bain went on: "On one of these indentations a hair of Madison Horn was found and in each indentation her DNA. If Madison's head had impacted with these areas could that have caused these injuries?"

Dr Penman told the court: "That is the potential cause of these injuries."

The jury also heard one of the bruises found on Madison's head area had a cross pattern on it.

When asked what could have caused this, Dr Penman said: "Perhaps the sole of a trainer."

No defensive injuries

The pathologist was shown two pool cues - one broken - taken from 61 Croftangry Road and asked if something like that could have caused a long thin injury found on Madison's thigh and replied: "That could have caused the mark."

Dr Penman also said she found four small round bruises on Madison's thighs and was asked her opinion about these and replied: "It makes you think of the potential of fingertips. It could be pinching or gripping."

The pathologist revealed there were no defensive injuries to the hands or arms of Madison who weighed 13.3kg and was 90.5cm tall.

She said: "It's not something we see often with children. Children don't appear to know they should defend themselves."

The charge against Mr Park includes claims that he shouted at Madison, pulled her hair, lifted the child up and repeatedly struck her head against a wall.

It goes on to allege that he also bit the toddler on the body before repeatedly striking her again "by means to the prosecutor unknown".