Man accused of Fife baby murder appears at High Court

37-year-old is alleged to have assaulted child numerous times

A Fife man accused of killing a baby in Buckhaven has appeared at the High Court in Glasgow ahead of his trial in February.

Gordon McKay, 37, denies murdering five-month-old Hayley Davidson in February last year.

He is alleged to have bitten the tot and bent and compressed her body in assaults on various occasions during her short life.

He is also accused of repeatedly shaking her and inflicting trauma and violence on her head and body by unknown means.

Hayley was so severely injured, according to the indictment against McKay, that she died in hospital on February 17 2016.

A preliminary hearing yesterday was told some evidence had been agreed upon before the trial, for which a special defence of incrimination has been lodged, including details of nonaccidental injury.

The court also heard McKay’s defence team continued to struggle to find expert witnesses available to give evidence.

Lord Beckett expressed frustration at an earlier hearing in August when McKay’s lawyer sought a further continuation of the case for that reason.

On Wednesday he said: “The court can only allow the opportunity, the court cannot make this happen. There may be some cases where it is not possible to have all the experts.

“I would encourage you to work on the basis that this trial is proceeding.”

McKay’s lawyer told the judge: “Efforts will persist. There is still some time before the trial date. A number of witnesses have indicated they are not in a position to assist at this time.”

Lord Beckett requested notification of the defence’s expert witnesses to the Crown as soon as possible before a further preliminary hearing which was fixed for January 16.

Up to 55 witnesses could be called to give evidence during the trial, starting on February 19, which is expected to take up to 20 days at the High Court in Edinburgh.

However, the agreement of a joint minute of evidence is expected to reduce the hearing by a day or two.

McKay’s bail was continued.

Hayley Davidson died aged only five months.