THE jury in the murder trial of babysitter Suzanne Holdsworth was sent home tonight after they failed to reach a verdict.

They will resume deliberating at Teesside Crown Court tomorrow morning over whether or not the 38-year mother caused fatal head injuries to toddler Kyle Fisher in July 2004 as she babysat him.

She is accused of repeatedly ramming his head into the banister of her then home in Millpool Close, Hartlepool, during the one hour and 15 minutes he was in her sole care.

The prosecution has alleged she attacked the two-year-old in a fit of rage, which caused him to lose consciousness within 15 minutes of the assault. He later died from severe brain swelling.

She denies the charge and her defence has claimed that Kyle died after suffering a fatal epileptic seizure after being assaulted, possibly by his mother Clare Fisher, the night before.

Kyle suffered from three pre-existing brain abnormalities, which left him pre-disposed to suffer from epileptic fits.

The defence said Kyle could have received the obvious bruises on his head the day before, causing a slow bleed in his skull, and triggering a fatal fit.

Miss Holdsworth has accepted she had a temper, but maintained she did not harm Kyle, and Miss Fisher told the court that while she was not "the most perfect mother" she loved her son and would never hurt him.