A FRIEND noticed bruising around a baby's forehead weeks before he died of horrific injuries, the Old Bailey heard today (Apr 21).

Bobby Harris died on December 29, 2008 having suffered brain damage, bleeding in his spine and injuries to the abdomen.

His mother Collette Harris, aged 30, of Chapel Close, Crayford, and her then boyfriend James Phillips, aged 25, of Dale View, Erith, deny murdering the 21-month-old child.

The court was told Harris began a relationship with Phillips quickly after she split up with Bobby's father Dan Louch.

Harris's friend Nicola Collins described to the court how she was surprised that Phillips was allowed to smoke when Bobby was in the room.

She said this broke a long-standing rule at Harris' home in Halcot Avenue, Bexleyheath.

Miss Collins told the jury that around the end of October 2008, Harris began pestering her for money she was owed.

Soon afterwards the pair “dropped contact” but Miss Collins said that on one occasion when she saw Bobby “he had bruises from one side of the forehead to the other.”

At the hospital on the day Bobby died Miss Collins noticed Harris was looking “tiny” and “gaunt”.

She said her friend seemed to have lost at least a stone in weight since they had last met.

The witness told the court Harris said to her: “You knew I'd never hurt my baby.”

But in cross-examination the witness agreed Harris was a “very caring, protective mother.”

Harris and Phillips also deny an alternative charge of causing or allowing the death of a child.

The trial continues.