A MOTHER repeatedly broke down in tears at the Old Bailey today (April 30) as she denied murdering her baby.

Bobby Louch died on December 29, 2008 after suffering injuries to his head and body allegedly caused by punches and kicks in the two days before.

The 21-month-old's mother Collette Harris, aged 30, of Chapel Close, Crayford, and her then boyfriend James Phillips, aged 25, of Dale View, Erith, deny murdering him.

The jury has heard how on On December 28, 2008 Bobby was vomiting bright green sick, had bruises on his body and a bump on his head.

But despite this, Harris did not seek medical assistance.

Harris was asked by Phillips' barrister Maura McGowan why she had not told anyone about the green vomit.

Ms McGowan said: “You knew you had punched him to the stomach.”

Breaking into tears, Harris replied: “No, I did not. I did not hurt my son.”

A friend of the pair Levi Cunningham went to the house in Halcot Avenue, Bexleyheath, that day and saw Bobby being sick again. Afterwards he left with Phillips.

Ms McGowan asked: “Did anything happen to Bobby after they left that evening? Did you begin to realise by then that Bobby really was very, very ill.”

“No,” Harris replied.

Ms McGowan alleged Harris had started to send text messages to friends, telling them about Bobby's illness to “set up a story” and deleted them after she was arrested.

Harris denied this.

The barrister said that since meeting Phillips, Harris had “changed”, becoming “clingy and anxious” to keep her relationship with Phillips going.

She told her: “Through frustration or anger or a mixture of any number of things, you began to hurt Bobby.”

“No,” replied Harris.

Neighbour Derek Raymond has told the court that at 2.30am on December 29, 2008 he could hear what sounded like a baby crying and the words “mama” through his wall.

Ms McGowan said to Harris: “You went into Bobby's room and he was either dying or dead.”

Harris said: “He was not dead.”

The barrister went on: “And that's why Mr Raymond heard you sobbing. Crying 'mummy' – sounding like a child.”

“No,” Harris replied.

Ms McGowan said: “Because you realised at that stage either that Bobby was very, very seriously ill or, indeed, that he had already died and that you had caused that.”

Harris said: “I did not hurt my baby. I worshipped him.”

During further cross-examination by prosecutor Richard Whittam, the trial had to be halted as Harris became increasingly emotional.

Mr Whittam said to her: “You caused the injuries to Bobby's abdomen.”

Harris denied she had.

Mr Whittam responded: “It follows from you saying that, if you're telling the truth, James must have done it. Yes?”

“Yes,” Harris replied.

She was asked about an occasion when she allegedly told Phillips she “regretted” having Bobby and was “fed up” with him.

Harris replied: “I've never said that about Bobby. He was special. He was wanted.”

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

The trial continues.