Accused ‘brutally attacked’ Madison Horn at home

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

Advocate depute Jennifer Bain said that there was a compelling circumstantial case against 27-year-old Kevin Park who denies murdering the two-year-old at 61 Croftangry Road, Kelty, Fife, on April 20.

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At the High Court in Glasgow Miss Bain said: “On April 20, Easter Sunday Madison Horn was brutally attacked in her home and she was unable to defend herself.

“She was struck again and again until she was covered in bruises, her skull was fractured and she had significant internal injuries. These injuries were unsurvivable.”

Miss Bain added: “Unless Kevin Park is an incredibly unlucky babysitter he caused these injuries.”

It is alleged that Park pulled Madison’s hair, lifted her up and repeatedly struck her head against a wall, bit her on the body and repeatedly struck her on the head and body by means unknown to the prosecutor.

The court has heard that Madison who died from blunt force trauma to her head and abdomen had 65 separate injuries including a fractured skull, tears to her liver and bruising to her head and body.

Miss Bain said: “The Crown contends that these injuries were inflicted on Madison in the course of a brutal attack.”

The prosecutor told the jury that medical experts claimed that significant force would have been required to inflict some of the injuries.

She spoke of two dents in the hallway of the house which Madison’s mother Ann Marie White said there had not been there before she left the house around 2pm to attend a friend’s birthday celebration in Cowdenbeath.

Miss Bain told the jury that one of Madison’s hairs was found in the cracked plaster in one of the indentations and her DNA was on both the dents.

The prosecutor said: “She was only 90.5 cms and the indentations were 149 cms and 165 cms from the floor. If she was struck against the wall she would have to be raised to that height in some way or by someone.

“Madison Horn had no injuries when her mother left that day.”

The prosecutor said: “Did the accused become annoyed when he was having his tea. That could account for the scattered chips on the floor.”

Miss said to the jury: “ Consider the number of injuries. Do you think these were caused by accident or do you think they were caused by a fall.”

The court has heard that Park called 999 around 6pm saying that Madison’s lips had turned blue.

“The 999 call handler said she didn’t think he was performing CPR on her. She said she didn’t hear anything being done. What could be more important than CPR. Why would he not do everything to save her.

“ Unless he was the one who caused her to be injured.”

When the Crown case closed today defence QC Mark Stewart said: “I won’t be leading any evidence.”

The trial before judge Michael O’Grady continues.