A DOCTOR told a jury there were no signs of epilepsy in nine-year-old Alfie Steele before he died.
Mum Carla Scott, 35, and her partner, Dirk 'Dean' Howell, 41, are accused of Alfie's murder and a trial is into a second week at Coventry Crown Court.
The jury had previously heard Carla Scott told a 999 call operator Alfie had fallen "asleep in the bath".
The prosecution alleges Alfie died on February 18, 2021 after being assaulted and held in a cold bath at his home at Vashon Drove, Droitwich, as punishment by Scott and Howell.
On Thursday, (May 11), witness Dr Rob Forsyth, a consultant paediatric neurologist, gave evidence.
Jennifer Josephs, prosecuting, asked: "In your expert opinion have you seen anything to indicate epilepsy is relevant to Alfie's death?"
"I have not," the doctor replied.
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Miss Josephs asked what, if Alfie had had a seizure in the bath, would a person in the room at the time expect to see.
"I would expect them to be aware something very wrong was happening," he said.
"Something profoundly wrong."
The doctor explained all his assessments were based on Alfie Steele's medical reports, which he had seen.
The jury heard growing up Alfie Steele had regularly been seen by healthcare professionals and had asthma and signs of ADHD.
Dr Forsyth said he had also seen the medical records of Carla Scott which showed she had mild cerebral palsy and epilepsy - the two being related.
But asked if Alfie had an increased risk of epilepsy due to his mother having it Dr Forsyth replied: "I thought it was unlikely".
The doctor said epileptic fits that caused drowning in baths were "uncommon", describing it as a rare cause of death.
Dr Forsyth said this was due to the advice medical professionals often gave parents of children with epilepsy to avoid hazardous situations, including baths.
Alistair Williamson KC, for Howell, explored this further asking - if Alfie had undiagnosed epilepsy - whether him going into a bath would have been a dangerous situation.
Dr Foryth said, in that hypothetical scenario: "If he had epilepsy it would have been a possible cause of death."
Carla Scott denies murder, manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of Alfie and child cruelty offences against Alfie and other children.
Howell, of Princip Street, Birmingham, admitted child cruelty against other children before his trial, but denies murder, manslaughter, cruelty or causing or allowing the death of Alfie.
The trial continues.
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