After six years of investigation, a medical expert concluded that a ten-month-old baby girl died as a result of "massive brain injury" caused by being repeatedly shaken with great force.

At a Coroner's Inquest in Magistrates' Court yesterday, Dr. William Halliday also said baby Samira Daniels possibly had her head hit against something.

Dr. Halliday is a consultant forensic paediatric pathologist at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

Dr. Halliday examined photographs of the eyes and brain of Samira and came to the conclusion that she died of something akin to shaken baby syndrome, whiplash or head trauma.

The doctor also suggested the time period of the injury took place approximately 12 hours prior to her showing symptoms of being fussy and irritated, which was indicated by her actions on 9 a.m. on November 24, 1998.

Samira's mother Renee Daniels said three of her sons died in a house-fire in her native Chicago in 1987.

"The fire was in the early hours of the morning," she said. "The cause was never determined. They think there was a short-circuit in the walls. The three boys were the only ones who perished in the fire."

Mrs. Daniels said by 1998 she had been living in Bermuda with her Bermudian husband for three years.

Samira's father, Philip Paul Daniels of Verdmont Valley View, Smiths said he was aware his daughter died as a result of brain injury.

Under questioning by Coroner Mark Pettingill, Mr. Daniels said he was aware the type of injury his daughter suffered was not a result of illness, disease or other "natural circumstances".

Police had briefly told Mr. Daniels about Dr. Halliday's conclusions, he said. "That's what Police said," Mr. Daniels said yesterday.

And he said Samira's local GP, Dr. June Hill had originally told him she did not die from falling down, but had a cracked skull.

"Police said she did not have a cracked skull," Mr. Daniels said.

He also said he was aware of the bleeding into her brain which occurred 12 hours before Samira was taken to KEMH.

Mr. Daniels said his daughter seemed fine when he returned home from work at around 7 p.m. on November 23, 1998.

On the night before she died, he said she was awake and seemed her usual self, either playing or crying.

He said it was more than likely that his wife, Renee Daniels put her in the crib that night. They went to bed at 9 p.m. but his stepson Oscar was still watching television.

The rest of the night was alright for him, but he did not know what it was like for his wife.

He said any event of violent shaking or head injury on either November 23 or 24, 1998 did not occur in his home.

And he said he had "no idea" how the "massive brain injury" occurred.

"She had pretty eyes," he said of his daughter. "She had eyes like looked right through you."

Arthur West said on the day in question he was at Olga Smith's day-care on Devon Springs Road, Devonshire.

Mr. West said at 9 a.m. he was outside cleaning his van, then went inside at around 9 a.m. to get something to eat.

He said he saw Ms Smith carrying Samira into a bedroom.

"She left the bedroom to get a play pen from the hallway" he said. "I heard a thump. I jumped up and ran inside. Samira was on the floor on her back. No sooner had a run in and picked her up, Olga ran in."

Ms Smith was screaming and was hysterical, he said.

"Help me, oh God," Ms Smith said. "The child is not breathing properly."

Mr. West ran to the house next door and got a neighbour to look after the other children at the day-care while he and Ms Smith took Samira to KEMH.

It took no more than six minutes to get to the emergency room, he said.

The Coronor's Inquest continues today.