This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7869721.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Pc's tears at attempt to save boy Accused mother 'seeking heroin'
(about 4 hours later)
A policeman has told a court that he broke down in tears after a failed attempt at keeping a toddler alive. A woman accused of killing her son was with a prostitute trying to earn money for heroin on the night he died, the High Court in Glasgow has heard.
Emergency services were called to a flat in Dundee on 16 March last year to try to help 23-month-old Brandon Muir. Brandon Muir, who was 23 months old, died in Dundee's Ninewells Hospital on 16 March after falling ill at his home.
His mother, Heather Boyd, 23, is accused of the culpable homicide of her son by not getting him medical help after he was assaulted. The court was told that social workers had been involved with Brandon one year before his death.
Robert Cunningham, also 23, is accused of murdering the boy by assaulting him. Both deny the charges. Ms Boyd, 23, denies the culpable homicide of her son. Robert Cunningham, also 23, denies murder.
Pc David Gibson was part of a team of officers and ambulance staff called to help Brandon at a flat in Balunie Crescent. It is alleged that Ms Boyd killed her son by failing to get him medical treatment after he was assaulted by Mr Cunningham.
He told the trial at the High Court in Glasgow: "I took a look at the child and saw that he was not moving. From previous such experience, I noticed that his eyes were not moving and were glazed. Ms Boyd's mother, Veronica, told the court that she never had any concerns about her daughter's love for Brandon and that she "got on well with children".
"There was no pulse and breathing, but the body was quite warm. I decided that I would take charge and have the room cleared immediately." She said she had not been aware that on the night the boy died her daughter had been out with a prostitute who later died of a drugs overdose.
The officer said he felt paramedics took an "eternity" to arrive before they took Brandon to hospital. When asked by Mr Cunningham's QC Ian Duguid if she knew that social work were involved with Brandon a year before his death, she replied: "She said there was no further case to follow up."
The boy was pronounced dead later that morning. Mr Duguid also claimed that a neighbour of Ms Boyd heard her shouting at Brandon that she hated him and could not cope with him.
Pc Gibson eventually spoke to Ms Boyd, who claimed the child had been unwell and vomiting "brown liquid". Earlier in the day, the jury heard of the desperate attempts by emergency services to save Brandon at a flat in Balunie Crescent. I just wanted to get moving towards the hospital as quickly as possible Amanda BurnettParamedic
She said a doctor had not been called. Pc David Gibson said: "I took a look at the child and saw that he was not moving. From previous such experience, I noticed that his eyes were not moving and were glazed.
The officer said he was suspicious about the incident and asked her if her partner abused drugs. "There was no pulse and breathing, but the body was quite warm."
She replied that she took heroin but her partner did not. I just want to get moving towards the hospital as quickly as possible Amanda BurnettParamedic
He was also told that if there were drugs they were kept out of Brandon's reach.
The jury heard that when Pc Gibson went out into the street he burst into tears.The jury heard that when Pc Gibson went out into the street he burst into tears.
Paramedic Amanda Burnett told the court that she ran up two flights of stairs to help Brandon.Paramedic Amanda Burnett told the court that she ran up two flights of stairs to help Brandon.
She said that she ran back down the stairs carrying the child while carrying out mouth-to-resuscitation.She said that she ran back down the stairs carrying the child while carrying out mouth-to-resuscitation.
She added: "I just want to get moving towards the hospital as quickly as possible." She added: "I just wanted to get moving towards the hospital as quickly as possible."
Ms Burnett said she saw the boy had a bruise on his stomach, his thighs were mottled and discoloured, his face was discoloured and his eyes were sunken.Ms Burnett said she saw the boy had a bruise on his stomach, his thighs were mottled and discoloured, his face was discoloured and his eyes were sunken.
She said that another paramedic drove the ambulance to Ninewells Hospital in nine minutes while she and her colleague battled to save the boy.
Ms Boyd and Mr Cunningham also face a charge of repeatedly and wilfully ill-treating Brandon between October 2007 and March 2008.Ms Boyd and Mr Cunningham also face a charge of repeatedly and wilfully ill-treating Brandon between October 2007 and March 2008.
This includes an allegation that they used or allowed others to take cannabis and heroin at three properties. Ms Boyd is accused of assaulting her son at Douglas Family Centre in Dundee on 5 March last year.
Boyd is accused of assaulting her son at Douglas Family Centre in Dundee on 5 March last year.
Cunningham is also charged with repeatedly and wilfully ill-treating another young boy at properties in Dundee between October 2007 and March 2008.Cunningham is also charged with repeatedly and wilfully ill-treating another young boy at properties in Dundee between October 2007 and March 2008.