An infant who was allegedly murdered by his father had bruising which suggested he had been attacked, a court heard.

Dr David Clow said Ian Metcalfe's son Kyle had bruising on his face which indicated that there had been an attempt to suffocate the child by placing a hand over his mouth.

The bruising was there weeks before the six-week-old child's death, the High Court in Edinburgh was told.

Ian Metcalfe faces a series of charges

Metcalfe, 34, of Locharbriggs, Dumfries, denies assaulting, attempting to murder and then murdering his son, Kyle.

He also denies attempting to murder and murdering another son by another woman, Dylan, in March 1996 and twice attempting to murder a third child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in 1989.

Dr Clow, 50, said: "My initial reaction to the bruises around the mouth was that they were similar to what happens if someone tries to stop a baby breathing by the position of the hand over the mouth.

"My first feeling was that someone had attacked the baby."

The doctor examined the baby at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary in December 1987, weeks before his death.

'Small haemorrhaging'

The consultant paediatrician said he had been told that the baby choked on his vomit after being fed by his father.

However, he told the jury of 15: "There was small haemorrhaging on the scalp and eyelids which happens when a baby is being suffocated or stopped from breathing."

Prosecutor Edward Targowski QC, asked the doctor if any family member had taken responsibility for the bruising.

Death was due to sudden infant death syndrome or cot death

Dr Ivan Gibson

Dr Clow said: "The father said he had slapped the baby on the back while trying to resuscitate the baby."

Dr Ivan Gibson, 55, conducted the post mortem examination on Kyle at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary following his death on January 27, 1988.

The consultant pathologist told the court he found the baby had two broken ribs and some haemorrhaging on four of his internal organs.

However he said he believed this had happened during an attempt to resuscitate the child.

He said: "This child died unexpectedly. Death was due to sudden infant death syndrome or cot death.

"There was no evidence of foul play and the baby appeared well-nourished and cared for."

The trial continues.