A babysitter accused of breaking a baby's leg is "not a monster" according to her lawyer. Urging a Supreme Court jury to acquit Betty Jean Steede of causing grievous bodily harm to five-month-old L'Naiye Simmons, Victoria Pearman acknowledged: "It's clearly a case that's an emotional one. It's clearly a case that touches your heart."

But, she said, it is possible the injury occurred before L'Naiye came into Steede's care and she asked the jury to consider this.

According to the prosecution, Steede, 51, inflicted the injury on the youngster at her home in Swansbay Hill, Pembroke, on the morning of Monday October 30 2006.

Senior Crown Counsel Carrington Mahoney has told the jury Steede was reckless, at least, in causing the spiral type fracture to the child's femur — a bone in his thigh.

The trial has heard from L'Naiye's mother, Laneh Simmons, and other members of her family, that he was in good health prior to leaving him with the babysitter. Ms Simmons described him as "normal, laughing and kicking," that morning.

Steede called her later to say the child would not stop crying and Ms Simmons discovered the injury when she went to pick him up.

Steede has told the court she is not responsible for the leg fracture. She admits L'Naiye's foot got caught in his baby outfit as she changed him, causing him to cry. However, she and her uncle, Norris Steede, said in evidence that he was also crying before this.

In her closing address to the jury, Ms Pearman claimed: "It is possible, it really is possible, that L'Naiye Simmons came to Ms Steede's house with a broken femur and that when Ms Steede went to change that baby's garments, that she moved that leg and caused it to scream."

Ms Pearman said of L'Naiye's mother: "I feel for her — God forbid someone should harm my child."

However, she also told the jury: "There's no room in this process for scapegoats. Yes, you feel sorry for the baby. All of us do. But you can't convict her (Steede) because you feel sorry for the baby. You can only convict her if the evidence satisfies you so you feel sure."

The jury has been instructed by the judge — as in all trials — to ignore media coverage of the case. However, Ms Pearman claimed her client has been portrayed as "a monster" when this is not the case.

In his closing address, Mr. Mahoney dismissed the idea that L'Naiye was injured before getting to Steede's home, despite Crown witnesses saying he appeared to be fine.

Babies start to cry when an insect crawls on them, he told the jury. "If you've got a spiral fracture, you think you can sit down there quite comfortable for an hour or so, chilling out?" he asked. He went on to tell them: "It is clear evidence that the injury the child got was suffered at her house."

He pointed to evidence from Ms Simmons that the first thing Steede did was ask what she had done to the baby. "The first thing she tried to do was cast blame on the mother. Is that the behaviour of someone who is so innocent?" he asked.

The case continues, with Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves likely to ask the jury to consider its verdict today.