THE entire case against Suzanne Holdsworth hinged on the medical evidence given by experts during the trial.

Doctors who examined two-yearold Kyle Fisher said the extent of his head injuries were such that he would not have been able to walk, talk, eat or drink after the fatal blows were inflicted.

Detectives from Cleveland Police said it had been a complex case from the outset, but said it was Holdsworth who had helped to seal her fate during the first trial.

A witness told the court she had seen Kyle walking across the street to the babysitter's home at about 10.15pm on July 21.

And Miss Holdsworth said when Kyle had arrived that night, he had been his usual self.

Miss Holdsworth told Teesside Crown Court that the toddler had eaten yoghurt, had drank from a glass, and had walked and talked before suddenly collapsing and having a seizure.

Throughout, she denied harming him and said his injuries must have been caused earlier that evening.

But, when it came down to the verdict, the jury believed the medical evidence, which claimed Kyle would not have been able to do any of those things after the injuries had been inflicted.

At best, doctors said he would have been "insensible".

Prosecutors claimed bruising on Kyle's head could have been the result of severe blows to his head from a bannister in Miss Holdworth's house.

They claimed it was likely that the babysitter had repeatedly rammed his head into the bannister in a fit of temper - causing injuries similar to a child involved in a car accident at 60mph.

However, despite taking the bannister away for examination, the prosecution and police offered no DNA or forensic evidence to the trial.

So, had Miss Holdsworth told the court that Kyle had been unwell on arriving at her house, the jury may not have been so quick to convict her.

Detective Superintendent Tony Hutchinson, who retired from Cleveland Police earlier this month, led the investigation and said once the medical evidence came through, it became the alibi of Kyle's mother, Clare Fisher, who had also been arrested and questioned.

He said: "If the trauma had been inflicted before Kyle got to Suzanne's house, he would immediately have gone into a coma."

How the toddler tragedy unfolded

July 20, 2004: Kyle Fisher suffers bruising to his head while being looked after by Miss Holdsworth.

She said it happened when he fell out of bed.

July 21, 2004: Kyle walks across to Miss Holdsworth's home at 10.15pm, while his mother Clare goes out for night. He suffers a seizure and slips into a coma at 11.30pm. At 11.45pm, he is taken to University Hospital of Hartlepool.

July 22, 2004: Kyle is transferred to Newcastle General Hospital's intensive care unit.

July 23, 2004: Kyle dies.

July 24, 2004: Kyle's mother, Clare, and Miss Holdsworth are arrested and questioned, before being released on police bail.

July 27, 2004: Police announce his death is being treated as murder.

August 18, 2004: Miss Holdsworth is charged with murder.

March 8, 2005: Miss Holdsworth is found guilty at Teesside Crown Court.

April 11, 2005: Miss Holdsworth is told she will serve at least ten years for the murder.

April 22, 2008: Miss Holdsworth appeals against her conviction.

May 1, 2008: Miss Holdsworth wins her appeal and a re-trial is ordered.