At the murder trial it was determined that the boy's injuries were consistent with abuse

A jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering his infant son has heard evidence that serious injuries inflicted on the child when he was 13 weeks old were “consistent with physical abuse”.

Craig Rowland, of Millington Park in Portadown, denies murdering his son Lewis Rowland and also denies manslaughter.

The 29-year-old and the child's mother, 31-year-old Laura Graham, had previously pleaded guilty to willful neglect of their son.

On Friday Belfast Crown Court heard the evidence of consultant pediatrician Dr. David Graham, who was on duty when the child was first admitted to hospital.

He said the child, who was taken to Craigavon ​​Area Hospital by his parents on November 20, 2015, was “extremely unwell and in urgent need of resuscitation to save his life”.

Dr. Graham said a CT scan taken shortly after Lewis' admission was “abnormal” and showed “evidence of extensive brain injury.”

He said when he told the child's parents about the scan, the baby's mother seemed upset, but he saw “no signs of reaction” from Mr Rowland.

The doctor told the jury that the infant's parents had told him about an incident that allegedly occurred a month earlier in which he suffered a seizure.

He said his parents also told him that their child had not been feeling well the night before he was admitted to the hospital and had been exhibiting unusual movements, including shaking and stiffening of his limbs.

They told him that he seemed to calm down after 30 minutes, but continued to have abnormal movements the next morning.

During his testimony, Dr. Graham on a report he was supposed to prepare for the police.

He said the 13-week-old boy suffered multiple serious injuries, including abusive head trauma, a retinal hemorrhage, extensive bruising to the face and neck and a fractured tibia.

The doctor concluded that all injuries were “consistent with physical abuse.”

The court also heard evidence that Lewis suffered a spinal injury and a broken rib.

The 13-week-old boy is said to have been “permanently and severely disabled” by the head injury.

Dr. Graham noted an “inconsistency” in the child's parents' history about how and where the bruising occurred.

He also said the delay in seeking medical attention for the infant was “excessively long.”

Lewis was later transferred to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children for emergency surgery on November 20, 2015, as medical staff feared he might not survive.

A nurse on duty in the intensive care unit told the jury she was “shocked” when his parents rejected the offer of a bedroom.

Kelly-Ann Fitzpatrick said parents would normally stay in hospital when a child was seriously ill.

She later confirmed to a defense attorney that after leaving the hospital around 9:30 p.m., both parents returned at 11 p.m. to say their elevator had not arrived.

The nurse agreed with the lawyer that both parents had subsequently asked to see their child and that they had been cordial with him.

Lewis died in hospital nearly three years later, on October 20, 2018, from complications following surgery.

The process continues.