Levi-Blu Cassin murder trial: Toddler 'punched, stamped or hit with weapon'

A 22-month-old boy's fatal injuries were like those caused by "a fall from the top floor of a house", an expert has told his parents' murder trial.

Levi-Blu Cassin bled to death internally from "punches, stamps, or impact from a weapon", Birmingham Crown Court heard.

Dr Alexander Kolar said Levi-Blu may have lived for up to 12 hours after being hurt in February 2013.

Danielle Cassin, 27, and Mark Piper, 31, deny Levi-Blu's murder.

Dr Kolar, a forensic pathologist, said there was evidence of earlier injuries that could have been inflicted on more than one occasion and were not the type to happen in "normal daily living".

The boy had cuts to his liver, bruising to his lungs and bowel, internal bleeding, and his duodenum - where the small intestine meets the stomach - was split in two by an injury.

One cut to his liver was 9cm (3.5in) long and 4cm (1.5in) wide.

There was also haemorrhaging around his kidneys and adrenal gland.

Asked by prosecution counsel Timothy Raggatt if the child was likely to have been sitting or standing at the time of injuries, Dr Kolar said he would have been in a fixed position, most likely lying on his back.

"Nothing suggests an accidental cause," he said.

Ms Cassin and Mr Piper, of Nightingale Avenue, Chelmsley Wood, West Midlands, also deny causing or allowing the death of a child, assault, neglect, abandoning a child and causing unnecessary suffering to a child.

The trial is due to resume on Thursday.