A five-month-old baby died of a fractured skull after his godmother failed to protect him from abuse or get him vital medical attention, the Supreme Court heard yesterday.

On the opening day of her trial, Sharina Anne Tuzo, 21, denied the manslaughter of her godson Saed Rami Nadir Young, who died of skull injuries on August 29, 1997.

The court heard Tuzo claimed the child had fallen from a bed and banged his head.

Saed's mother Roshea Lovette Eugenia Young said she loved Tuzo "like a sister'', and trusted her with the care of Saed.

Tuzo and her boyfriend, Jermaine Pearman, the dead boy's godfather, were given the child to look after for a week at an apartment in Bobs Valley Lane, Sandys, on August 16. At the time, Ms Young, who has two other sons, was in a hostel for young mothers.

The court heard Tuzo persuaded Ms Young to leave the child a little longer, but when she collected him two days later, his head and legs were injured and he could not be roused from sleep.

Saed was rushed to the intensive care unit of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital but died of a fractured skull three days later.

Senior Crown counsel Brian Calhoun said: "On August 16, this accused obtained from Ms. Young a happy, healthy baby boy.

"On August 26, what she returned to Ms Young was a baby abused and critically injured and for which it would appear Miss Tuzo had not obtained, or even attempted to have obtained, medical attention, nor had she removed him from the danger of the house.'' Mr. Calhoun said he would not contest an anticipated defence assertion that the injuries were inflicted by Pearman. On Monday, Pearman, 21, of Bobs Valley Lane, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He will be sentenced on November 1.

Mr. Calhoun said the reason Tuzo was charged with manslaughter was that she "failed in her legal duty of care to remove the child from danger when he was being abused and when injured to try to get this child medical attention''.

Tuzo was legally obliged to provide the "necessities of life'' to the child in her care. The charge states that she killed Saed through gross negligence or reckless disregard for his safety.

Mr. Calhoun said when Ms Young attempted to retrieve the child on Monday August 25, it appeared no one was at home. She returned by taxi the following evening about 6 p.m. after speaking to Tuzo.

"When she was given the baby, it appeared something was wrong,'' Mr. Calhoun told the jury. "Something was wrong all right. I expect that you will hear evidence that the baby was limp.

"When the mother got in the taxi and further examined him, you will hear evidence that the baby's face was bruised and scratched and his legs appeared stiff. His breathing was shallow and the baby could not be aroused.

"The mother immediately took the baby by taxi to her mother's place and got medical attention from her mother, who is a nurse.'' When the mother could not arouse the baby, the taxi went on an emergency run to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. It was met en route by an ambulance which raced with the child to hospital where Saed was put on a life support machine.

"Notwithstanding the miracles of modern medicine, this child was so badly injured that the hospital also found it had a fractured skull. The fractured skull eventually led to his death three days later.'' Ms Young, 23, of Spring Benny Road, Sandys, began crying when she was asked to identify Tuzo in the witness box.

She told Chief Justice Austin Ward she knew Tuzo when she was younger, but it was not until she moved to Somerset that they became close.

Mother found baby in coma "I considered her a sister and I loved her, and I thought she loved my children,'' she said.

She said when she became pregnant with Saed, it was "automatic'' that Tuzo should be godmother and Pearman, whom she treated like a cousin, the godfather.

She said Tuzo wanted to take care of Saed for a week before she started work.

Her children were always around Tuzo and she thought it would be fine because Saed had stayed overnight with the accused before.

She said Tuzo wanted to have Saed every other weekend and every other week.

Ms Young said she called Tuzo during the week and was alarmed to hear Saed crying in the background. The telephone was answered by Tuzo's sister, Tamesha. Tuzo then called back and was at first defensive, but assured her that Saed was fine.

She called on a number of other occasions and was told by Tamesha that Saed was out with Tuzo, which she found reassuring.

Ms Young said she called Tuzo on Sunday night to say she wanted Saed back because she was missing him, but Tuzo said she wanted to keep him for a few more days.

Ms Young said she agreed to allow her to bring the baby to her mother's house the following day because her mother was having a party.

Tuzo did not return the boy on Monday, so on Tuesday, Ms Young took a taxi to Tuzo's apartment. Tuzo was "all smiles and all happy'' when she arrived.

Ms Young saw her son lying on a bed and said Pearman told her "Something's wrong with Saed''. When she asked what was wrong, he replied: "You'd better take him to a doctor.'' She alleged Tuzo then said the baby "fallen off the bed and hasn't been up since''. It was not disclosed when the child fell.

She said that when she asked Tuzo why she hadn't taken the baby to a doctor, the accused said she didn't have his medical records. She said Tuzo gave the same response when she asked why she hadn't taken Saed to the hospital.

"I was shocked. I picked Saed up. I remember now thinking he was thin and before he was healthy. I took him up in my arms and Sharina was talking to me as I was walking out. All my attention was with her.

"She said: `Call me when you get in and tell me how he's been'. I got in the taxi and the taxi driver said: `He's in a deep sleep isn't he?'. I then saw the marks on his face.'' The child had a bruise on the right side of his head, a scab above his left eye, his legs were stiff, and his breathing was laboured.

Ms Young recalled her heartbreaking attempts to revive her dying baby in the taxi.

"I called his name because when I call his name he will smile and laugh, but he never responded. There was no laugh, so I raised his eyelid and his eyes were just staring.

"I raised another eyelid and his eyes were just staring at me. This time I was worried because I knew in my heart that something was wrong.'' When she arrived at the hospital a group of doctors and nurses tried to revive Saed and he was taken for a CAT scan.

She said Pearman and Tuzo turned up at the hospital and Tuzo joined her in prayers for her dying son.

Ms Young alleged Tuzo said: "I'm sorry. I didn't know it was that bad.'' She said she heard a doctor questioning Tuzo about how Saed got his injuries. "I remember hearing the doctor's voice. She couldn't believe her. Sharina said Saed had fallen out of the bed and must have hit his head. Sharina said she should never have gone to the bathroom.'' The trial continues today.