SEVERAL injuries inflicted on a nine-year-old boy who was found dead in the bath at his home were from an “adult who had lost control," a court has heard.

Community paediatrician Dr Sue Zeitlin told a jury that some of the bruises on Alfie Steele, who was found dead in Droitwich in February 2021, suggested he had been "manhandled".

She also told the trial at Coventry Crown Court that she could not exclude that marks on Alfie’s buttocks were from being kicked by an adult.

Dr Zeitlin suggested some of the injuries were from an "adult who had lost control".

Alfie’s mother, Carla Scott, 35, and her partner, Dirk Howell, 41, are both accused of his murder.

Dr Zeitlin, who has 40 years experience as a paediatrician and 20 years in child protection, said the number and location of the injuries on Alfie’s body suggested they were more than ‘classic’ childhood bumps and scratches and that it was “likely” he had been subjected to physical punishment.

“Multiple injuries to the face like this are very unusual,” she told the jury.

“You can have one or two injuries from falling off a bike but it is unusual to get 50 injuries from a fall."

Dr Zeitlin said it would be “very difficult” to assume that the number of bruises on Alfie’s body were all caused by an accident and said some of the injuries showed that they were inflicted by a belt or “anything with parallel lines.”

The jury heard earlier in the week from two pathologists including paediatric pathologist Dr Roger Malcomson who said several of Alfie’s injuries looked “likely to be inflicted” rather than accidents and some indicated blunt force trauma.

Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Matthew Lyall explained each of the 50 injuries that were found all over Alfie, which included scratches, bruises and cuts, after his body was discovered lifeless in the bath of his Vashon Drive home in Droitwich.

Dr Lyle later said some of the injuries were “not everyday bumps” and likely from “incidents you would remember.”

Alfie’s mother Carla Scott denies murder, manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of Alfie and child cruelty offences against Alfie and other children.

Howell, of Princip Street, Birmingham, admitted child cruelty against other children before his trial, but denies murder, manslaughter, cruelty or causing or allowing the death of Alfie.

The trial continues.