INJURIES to a 21-month-old baby may have been missed by hospital staff three weeks before he died, a court has heard.

Bobby Louch died on December 28, 2008 at his mother's home in Halcot Avenue, Bexleyheath, after receiving multiple injuries to his head and body.

His mother Collette Harris, aged 30, of Chapel Close, Crayford, and her then boyfriend James Phillips, aged 25, of Dale View, Erith, deny murdering him.

Bobby had been admitted to Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford, with a broken leg on December 9, 2008.

His leg was put in plaster and he was sent home the next day.

But the Old Bailey heard today (April 27) how, during an examination of the child's injuries after his death, consultant neuro-pathologist Dr Safa Al-Sarraj discovered two different episodes of bleeding to the child's brain.

One had occurred less than 48 hours before Bobby's death, the doctor said.

But the second, smaller-scale bleeding could have occurred months before, he claimed.

The court has already been told by forensic pathologist Professor Anthony Risdon that two fractured ribs were discovered on the child's body.

He was asked by Harris's barrister Nicholas Syfret whether the injuries could have been present but missed by an x-ray at Darent Valley Hospital on December 9.

Prof Risdon replied: “They could have done, yes.”

Harris and Phillips deny an alternative charge of causing or allowing the death of a child.

The trial continues.