A visibly upset mother almost broke down after seeing graphic photographs of her three-year-old child?s injuries during the trial of a Devonshire man charged with assaulting the boy after he ?pooped? his pants.

Jahmaine Coddington, 28, of Pride Lane, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with intent to cause bodily harm to Javier Franks on March 19 and 20 of this year. Javier, his biological son, was three years old at the time.

At the start of the trial on Tuesday, Magistrate Juan Wolffe heard from Doctor Angela Marini, an emergency room physician at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, that on the evening of March 20 she was on duty when the child was brought to the hospital by his mother Tinika Franks.

During an examination of the boy, Dr. Marini observed multiple bruises and abrasions on the child?s thighs and buttocks, injuries consistent with a strap, she said.

Other marks she observed were consistent with a hand mark and, on the child buttocks, there were four small red bruises.

The child, now four years old, told Dr. Marini that Coddington had hit him because he ate too much food and had spoiled his pants.

During her testimony Dr. Marini gave evidence on graphic photographs of the boy?s injuries and confirmed that the bruises on his legs were consistent with welt markings.

Dr. Marini told Crown counsel Wayne Caines: ?You would have to apply a significant amount of force to leave such marks on the child?s body.?

When Ms Franks came to the witness box she said had taken Javier to Coddington?s residence on Friday, March 18 because she was obliged to under a court order.

When she collected her son on Sunday, March 20, Coddington said he had ?smacked the child because he had pooped his pants and should be potty trained?.

She asked him what he smacked Javier with and he replied ?his hand?.

A short time later, Ms Franks said she returned home and filled a bath for Javier. While she was preparing for dinner, he shouted out to her ?come quick, I have a sore?.

Ms Franks said she removed the child from the bathtub to take a closer look at his body and noticed purple marks on the front and on the back of his legs resembling strap marks and red marks on his legs.

During the proceedings, Mr. Caines showed photographs of the child?s injuries to Ms Franks and when she was asked by him to identify the marks on the boy?s body she appeared visibly upset.

Coddington, representing himself, cross-examined Ms Franks and accused her of disciplining the child physically for soiling himself.

?You can lick him but I can?t,? he said.

But Ms Franks adamantly denied ever hitting Javier with a belt or any object.

She admitted that she had hit Javier on his hands, only twice, but said she usually corrected her son by talking to him.

The case was adjourned until September 19 in Magistrates? Court and Coddington was remanded on custody for another matter.