The true story behind the death of baby Charlotte Latta will never be known.

This week, her father, Mark Latta, walked free from Winchester Crown Court after his trial for the murder of the 10-week-old was thrown out.

Judge, the Hon Mr Justice Grigson ordered jurors to return a not guilty verdict, telling them that, although he was sure beyond doubt that Charlotte had been abused in her short lifetime, there was not enough evidence to convict her father of her murder or the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Mr Latta's ordeal began on December 2nd 2001 as he fed his baby daughter in an upstairs room at the family home in Bishop's Waltham.

The rest of the family, including Charlotte's mother, Mr Latta's partner Sharon, (who is now his wife), were enjoying a roast dinner together downstairs.

A cry for help sounded through the house as Charlotte, described at Winchester Crown Court as an awkward feeder, stopped breathing.

She was taken to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital where doctors managed to stabilise her before she was transferred to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children.

Charlotte had suffered such extensive brain damage that she died two days later.

Doctors found 32 fractures to her legs, arms and ribs.

She had also suffered retinal bleeding - a sign that she could have been shaken violently.

A post mortem confirmed the fractures, the police were called and former Portsmouth Polytechnic student, Mark Latta, was charged with her murder.

Father-of-four Mr Latta's trial finally got under way six weeks ago.

On Tuesday it came to an abrupt end when jurors returned an early verdict of not guilty, under the orders of the judge. Directing them to return the verdict, Judge Grigson said: "I will tell you now that I have concluded that there is not sufficient evidence to convict Mr Latta on either a murder or manslaughter charge."

He said that the medical evidence was inconsistent, adding: "It isn't simply that there is a clash of opinions, it is that there is a dispute, and a valid one, on almost every aspect of the medical evidence."

He added: "That someone abused Charlotte is beyond doubt. While Mr Latta is one of those who could have inflicted the injuries, there is no evidence he did so, and all the evidence is that he was a caring and loving father."

The collapse of the trial came just two weeks after the judge had also ordered that two further charges of grievous bodily harm against the 41-year-old, relating to Charlotte's fractures, be dropped because of insufficient evidence.

Throughout the trial, Mr Latta had always protested his innocence. The wealthy businessman, who owns Portchester-based IT company, The Power-Works, described hearing the news of Charlotte's injuries with disbelief, saying he couldn't understand how anyone could hurt his daughter.

Prosecutors had alleged that Mr Latta, of Byron Close, Bishop's Waltham, had lost his temper with his daughter while feeding her and struck her head against a hard object, causing the brain damage that led to her death.

The defence had argued that Charlotte had suffered a spasm in her laryngeal muscles which could have sealed off her throat and stopped her breathing - something Judge Grigson said the prosecution team had failed to disprove.

Speaking after the verdict with his wife by his side, Mr Latta said: "There are no celebrations here today. Charlotte's untimely death was a tragedy and the second tragedy was being wrongfully accused of her murder.

"Today a third tragedy has been avoided, namely the possibility of a wrongful conviction. I have always maintained my innocence and I could never have hurt or harmed my daughter.

A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary, said that exhaustive enquiries were completed after Charlotte's death to try and establish who was responsible.

"The police do not intend to re-open this investigation."