Couple in court over death of toddler

A man accused of killing a toddler by kicking her in the stomach seemed "calm and unemotional" when she was taken to hospital, a court has heard.

Amina Agboola, two, was found injured at her home near Peterborough after paramedics were called on November 21 last year. She died later that day.

Her mother's boyfriend, Dean Harris, 19, later admitted he had lost his temper and kicked her in the stomach, Cambridge Crown Court heard.

Harris, 19, of Scott Drive, Yaxley, denies murder but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Sarah Racqueman, 29, also of Scott Drive, denies causing or allowing her daughter's death, and cruelty to two other children.

Today Catriona Thompson, an accident and emergency consultant at Peterborough Hospital, said that Racqueman had seemed "devastated" when told of her daughter's death.

But when asked about Harris, she said: "He seemed calm throughout, unemotional.

"There wasn't much reaction from him at all actually."

A post-mortem examination also found Amina's arm had recently been fractured, she had bruises to her face and skull and there were bite marks to her cheek and forearm.

The court heard that Harris, who accepts he kicked Amina in the stomach and ruptured her liver but claims he did not intend to cause serious harm, had himself called paramedics to the house in Yaxley on the day of her death.

He told crews she had fallen off a toilet, but later admitted this was not true.

The trial continues.

A mother and her boyfriend have appeared in court over their alleged involvement in the death of a toddler in Cambridgeshire.

2 year-old Amina Agboola died in November 2013 after arriving at Peterborough City Hospital with serious injuries. Both deny the charges.

A mother and her boyfriend are standing trial over their alleged involvment in the death of a toddler in Cambridgeshire.

2-year-old Amina Agboola died in November 2013 after arriving at Peterborough City Hospital with serious injuries.

Her mother Sarah Raqueman is accused of causing or allowing her death and her boyfriend Dean Harris is charged with her murder. They both deny the charges.