A father who was accused of shaking his baby son to death has admitted culpable homicide.

Alexander Ness, from Edinburgh, originally faced a charge of murder.

However, his plea of guilty to culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility caused by a brain injury was accepted on Wednesday.

The 53-year-old, who was standing trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, lodged the plea after the Crown had completed its case.

I think everybody would draw their own conclusion that this was an evil individual DCI Euan Morrison Lothian and Borders Police

Sentence has been adjourned for the preparation of psychiatric, neurological and social inquiry reports on Ness.

The court had heard how Alexander Ness had a record of violence.

A maternity nurse at the Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion in Edinburgh had also warned that it was unsafe to send Caleb Ness home with his parents.

As a new born baby he spent four weeks in hospital withdrawing from methadone his mother, Shirley Malcolm, had taken during pregnancy.

Caleb was 11 weeks old when he died in October 2001.

His mother was a former heroin addict with two other children in care.

Caleb was put on an at-risk register and left in the care of his parents.

Tragic case

Les McEwan, social work director at Edinburgh City Council, said: "Whilst both his parents had a history of chaotic lifestyles there was evidence to suggest this had changed in recent years and in particular his mother was caring for him well."

Lothian Police's Detective Chief Inspector Euan Morrison said it had been a difficult case.

"I think this will bring some closure for everybody, not least of which is Caleb's mother," he said.

"This was a very tragic case, I think any death is tragic, particularly more so when it is a young, innocent child.

"I think from the point of view of what came out in court, in so far as his previous convictions, I think everybody would draw their own conclusion that this was an evil individual."