Man who tortured children at Edinburgh house dies before trial

A leading paediatrician, who is an expert on child abuse, said some of the injuries she found on one traumatised 11-year-old boy were the worst of their kind which she has seen.

During the horror weekend at a house in Edinburgh, police were called by neighbours - but left after finding all was quiet and being told that the children were sleeping.

Gary Marinello, 32, claimed it had taken 20 minutes to answer the door because he was having noisy sex.

Marinello was expected to stand trial next month but died of a drugs overdose on June 26, advocate depute Joanna Cherry QC told the High Court in Edinburgh.

A woman who would have been beside him in the dock accused of serious assaults on two 11-year-old boys and a 12-year-old girl admitted reduced charges.

Elaine Robertson, 37, of 30 Kinloss Park, Cupar, Fife, now faces sentence - when background reports have been prepared - for the part she played between February 27 and March 2 last year.

A shocked judge was shown photos of the injuries inflicted on the youngsters - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - and of the dark, tiny cupboard they were barricaded into overnight.

The two boys were not even allow out to use the toilet.

Marinello burned the little girl's nose and threatened to burn her eyes out with a cigarette. He said he would drop a computer console on her head.

The catalogue of torture which Marinello, formerly of Drumbryden Gardens, West Hailes, Edinburgh, is said to have carried out also included trussing the children up, tying them to a radiator, a gate, and each other with belts, bandages and electric cable.

The youngsters were also punched, kicked and spat on and beaten with a shoe.

The court heard that the abuse came to light when the children failed to attend school on the Monday morning. Social workers were called in and noticed that the boys and girl had black eyes and other marks on their faces.

When questioned they began to describe what had happened.