Court told of baby's bleeding eyes

A SIX-WEEK-OLD baby allegedly murdered by her mother's boyfriend suffered bleeding in the eyes days before her death, a court heard yesterday.

Alexis Matheson had haemorrhages in the corner of both eyes. A GP examined her and decided the symptoms were consistent with constipation, from which she had been suffering, and no further action was taken. Alexis died just over a week later.

Mark Simpson, 29, of Dyce, Aberdeen, is accused of killing the baby by shaking her and crushing her chest on several occasions.

At his trial at the High Court in Aberdeen yesterday, health visitor Diane Mackie described the only time she had had contact with the youngster.

She said: "The first thing I noticed was the baby's eyes. They were red. It just looked like bloodshot."

Alexis fell ill on 9 December, 2007, and was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. She was flown to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh for more specialised treatment but died the next day.

On 22 November, her mother had sought advice from Woodside Medical Group because the baby had red eyes. Alexis was examined by Dr Linda Mackay, who found she had suffered bilateral subconjuctival haemorrhages. However, she was told the baby had been constipated and decided the blood in the eyes fitted with that condition.

The doctor told police: "She didn't show any outward signs of being distressed at all."

The trial continues.