65 injuries on Madison’s body, murder trial told

TODDLER Madison Horn had 65 separate injuries and died from blunt-force trauma to her head and abdomen, a pathologist told a murder trial yesterday.

Madison Horn, who Kevin Park, 27, is accused of killing. Picture: Contributed

Dr Dawn Penman, a consultant paediatric pathologist, was giving evidence at the trial of Kevin Park, 27, who is accused of killing his former lover’s child.

Park denies murdering two-year-old Madison at Croftangry Road, in Kelty, Fife, on 20 April.

The pathologist was asked by advocate depute Jennifer Bain, prosecuting, what the cause of death was.

Dr Penman replied: “In my opinion, Madison’s death was due to traumatic injury. She died from blunt-force head and abdominal trauma.”

Madison, who was being looked after by Park while her mother went out with friends, was rushed to hospital just after 6pm and died there hours later.

Dr Penman carried out the post-mortem examination the next day.

Miss Bain asked Dr Penman: “Did you detail each injury, and there are 65 in total, is that right?” Dr Penman said: “Yes.” The jury at the High Court in Glasgow heard that there were 31 injuries to Madison’s head and neck area.

There was bruising to both her ears and Dr Penman said this was an unusual place to be injured.

She said: “This was in an inaccessible area and would suggest to me there has been gripping or pinching of the ears.”

The court also heard that there was bruising to her head and hair missing.

Dr Penman said: “It would make you think the hair had been pulled out by force or trauma.

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“It could be caused by the head against a rough surface or this could have been caused by the hair being pulled out.”

The court was told that as well as carrying out the post-mortem examination, Dr Penman had visited Madison’s home.

She was asked by Miss Bain: “Were you shown damage to a wall?” and replied: “Yes.”

Miss Bain went on: “On one of these indentations, a hair of Madison Horn was found and, in each indentation, her DNA. If Madison’s head had impacted with these areas, could that have caused these injuries?”

Dr Penman told the court: “That is the potential cause of these injuries.”

The jury also heard that one of the bruises found on Madison’s head area had a cross pattern on it and Dr Penman, when asked what could have caused this, said: “Perhaps the sole of a trainer.”

The pathologist was shown two pool cues – one broken – taken from the house and was asked if something like that could have caused a long, thin injury found on Madison’s thigh. She replied: “That could have caused the mark.”

The pathologist also said she found four small round bruises on Madison’s thighs and was asked her opinion about these. Dr Penman replied: “It makes you think of the potential of fingertips. It could be pinching or gripping.”

Dr Penman revealed that there were no defensive injuries to the hands or arms of Madison who weighed 13.3 kilos (two stone) and was 90.5cm (3ft) tall.

She said: “It’s not something we see often with children. Children don’t appear to know they should defend themselves.”

The trial before judge Michael O’Grady QC continues.

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