Jury in infant death trial begins deliberations

A verdict is due in the trial of a man charged with killing his fianceé's three-and-a-half-month old baby.

Philip Doyle of Tinakilly, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow is accused of the manslaughter of Ross Murphy at 3 Creagh Demesne, Gorey,Co. Wexford on April 5, 2005.

He was originally charged with murder but that was reduced to manslaughter following a court ruling.

The prosecution's case is that Ross Murphy died from brain trauma as a result of shaken baby syndrome.

Philip Doyle has said he tripped on a mat and fell on the wooden floor while holding the infant at their home in Gorey while Ross's mother Leona Murphy was out getting a DVD.

The 34-year-old only recounted the accident to gardaí around three weeks after the baby's death.

The prosecution maintains that is because his claim is based on a lie that doesn't fit in with the medical evidence.

But the defence has pointed to the testimony of a neuropathologist who told the court Ross's brain injuries could have been caused by the fall described by the accused.

The jury has now started its deliberations.