Pathologist cannot determine cause of brain injury that killed Glasgow toddler

A toddler who was allegedly murdered by her own mother in Glasgow died of a brain injury, a court has heard.

Paediatric pathologist Dawn Penman carried out a postmortem examination on 14-month-old Inaya Ahmed after the toddler died at her home in Drumchapel in April last year.

Ms Penman told the High Court in Glasgow that the child had died of a brain injury “in keeping with the scenar- io of prolonged cardiac arrest”.

Dr Penman said that she was unable to determine the most likely scenario that led to the injury, whether it was intentional, accidental or through natural diseases.

She was giving evidence at the trial of Sadia Ahmed, 28, who denies murdering her daughter. Ms Ahmed is accused of smothering the child by placing a cushion over her face and shaking her.

Inaya’s aunt Shagufta Yasmin has previously given evidence alleging that Ms Ahmed “was not happy” and cried when she discovered she was having a girl.

Dr Penman said she was given scenarios to consider including choking and suffocation, having been told that Inaya choked on a piece of bread.

She said: “What we are saying, that the pathological findings don’t allow us to determine which of these scenarios is what’s happened, if indeed it was either of these two scenarios.

“There are other possibilities as well.”

The trial continues.