A childminder from Addiscombe shook a baby boy to death "in a momentary loss of temper" after falling out with his parents, an Old Bailey jury heard this week.

Linda Bayfield, 54, shook little Joshua Osborne so violently his head was "sent backwards and forwards with tremendous force", it was alleged on Monday (November 26).

Despite desperate efforts to keep baby Joshua alive he died six days later from brain and eye haemorrhages exactly eight months after he was born.

The babysitter later told police she shook the tot twice quite firmly but not violently' after seeing he was having problems breathing.

But a number of doctors and medical experts said her account was inconsistent with the injuries to Joshua's brain.

Bayfield had been looking after Joshua and his five-year-old sister Catrina at her home in Sissinghurst Road on July 10 last year.

The boy's parents, Libbie and Ken Osborne from Mulberry Lane in Addiscombe, had used the same childminder since their daughter was born.

Nicholas Loraine-Smith, prosecuting, said: "The defendant made a 999 call begging for an ambulance to come as quickly as possible.

"By that time he had very serious injuries to his brain and subsequently died six days later.

"The defendant told police and others that Joshua had been sitting in a baby walker when, for no apparent reason, started to scream as if in pain.

"She picked him up and he screamed again, she said. He breathed in but did not breath out.

"She claimed for this reason she shook twice quite firmly but not violently and then blew on his face."

Outlining the Crown's case, Mr Lorraine-Smith said her story was inconsistent with the evidence and opinion of a medical experts.

He continued: "Joshua suffered injuries to his brain and eyes inconsistent with two firm, non-violent shakes, but consistent with a much greater degree of violence used.

"The Crown say this defendant lost her temper and shook that child so hard even the best efforts by hospital staff were unable to save his life."

The court heard there was some friction between the family and the defendant.

The Osbornes were said to be poor time-keepers when dropping off their two children at th defendant's home.

The family also gave written instructions to the defendant that their son should not be placed in a baby walker' which was disregarded by Bayfield, jurors heard.

Bayfield denies murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter.

The trial continues.

November 29, 2001 09:32