A FORENSIC scientist who claims a toddler was killed when he had his head bashed against a banister, has been told that the conclusion to his investigation was "meaningless".

The accusation was rejected by Neil Garton, who was giving evidence on the fifth day of the trial of Suzanne Holdsworth, who is accused of murdering a neighbour's two-year-old son.

Ms Holdsworth, 34, denies murdering Kyle Fisher at her home in Millpool Close, Hartlepool, when she was babysitting him on July 19, last year.

The prosecution alleges mother-of-two Ms Holdsworth grabbed Kyle by the throat and repeatedly hit him against banisters in her home.

Kyle died in hospital from severe brain trauma two days after the alleged assault, the force of which was likened to being thrown from a car at 60mph.

Ms Holdsworth's interviews with detectives were read to the jury at Teesside Crown Court before Mr Garton, who gave evidence earlier in the trial, was recalled to answer more questions.

During cross-examination from defence barrister Jeremy Richardson, the forensic scientist accepted he could place the chances of Kyle's injuries being caused by the banister as no higher than "likely".

Mr Richardson said that because Mr Garton had not been asked to examine anything else in the house, his conclusion was "really meaningless".

But the scientist said: "I think it adds something to the context of the case."

Mr Garton said the curved bruises on Kyle's head could possibly have been caused by contact with the scalloped edge of the banister.

Ms Holdsworth is expected to go into the witness box today at the start of the defence case.

She claims Kyle had a fit while he was in her care and denies harming him while his 19-year-old single mother was having a night out.

The case continues.