An expert on child injuries has rubbished claims that wounds found on a baby, said to have been killed by her father, could have been caused by resuscitation.

Professor Anthony Risdon, Britain's only consultant in paediatric forensic pathology, was giving evidence in the trial of Hampshire businessman, Mark Latta.

The 41-year-old is alleged to have murdered his 10-week-old baby daughter, Charlotte, after losing his temper with her at their Bishop's Waltham home in December, 2001.

He is said to have struck the child's head against a hard object while feeding her. She died two days later at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children in London.

This week at Winchester Crown Court, Prof Risdon told how bruising could only have been caused by her head hitting, or being hit, against a hard object. But part of his evidence was called into question by Latta's QC, Anthony Jennings.

Mr Jennings queried a statement made by the professor during another trial in which he said fractures could never be caused during resuscitation, only for the professor to retract it after further research. Prof Risdon said he had been right to change his statement after finding the new evidence.

But he added that, in those cases, the fractures to the ribs had been to the front, not the back, as with Charlotte and he maintained resuscitation could not have caused all 32 fractures found on her.

Earlier this week, Latta, known as "Doug", was described as a loving and devoted father by long-time friend, Charles Grover, who had flown from Thailand at his own expense to give evidence.

He added: "When I heard what had happened, I was speechless and dumbfounded. He (Latta) has been devastated by the death of his daughter."

The court heard that Latta had no previous convictions and social services had never had any reason to visit the family. Latta, formerly of Byron Close, Bishop's Waltham, denies one charge of murder.

Proceeding