Tina McLeod denies inflicting fatal injuries

Tina McLeod, 40, has denied inflicting fatal injuries on Alexander Graham by shaking him and striking his head on a blunt object or surface at her home in the city on 26 July 2001.

Alexander was taken to Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Sick Children, where he died the following day.

Sean Tomany, 18, told the High Court in Edinburgh how he helped his mother, who was accompanied by her two children and Alexander's five-year-old sister, take shopping indoors.

'Banging noise'

Minutes later, he said he heard a single bang from the living room.

Mr Tomany, a hotel porter, said his mother ran into his bedroom clutching Alexander, who then had a lump on the back of his head.

Mr Tomany told the High Court in Edinburgh his mother, a city council-registered child minder, said the baby had fallen from a sofa.

She said Alex had fallen off the chair and banged his head Sean Tomany

But he changed his evidence after advocate-depute Gerald Hanretty QC pointed out he had told police his mother said the infant fell from a chair.

Mr Tomany told the court: "I heard a banging noise, it came from the living room, there was one bang.

"I heard her running down the hallway shouting. She brought Alex into my room, I saw the back of his head it was lump-shaped, he was quite tense and his hands were clenched up.

"She said Alex had fallen off the settee."

The trial is taking place at the High Court in Edinburgh

The court then heard Mr Tomany's original statement to police on 31 July 2001.

Mr Tomany read out: "I heard a thump."

"About half a minute later my mum walked quickly in the room, she was cradling Alex against her, she was swaying him, she seemed anxious and panicky.

"She said Alex had fallen off the chair and banged his head, that's when I saw a purple bruise with a lump on it on the back right side of his head."

Sitting in the dock, Mrs McLeod shook her head.