Tashieka Mair, Gleaner Writer

The trial into the murder of a four-year-old boy, Joseph 'Jordan' Gibson, who was allegedly punched to death by his stepfather in 2005, will continue today in the Home Circuit Court with the testimony of the doctor who examined the child at hospital.

Damion Mallette, labourer, of Hall's Green district, St. Andrew, has been on trial before Mrs. Justice Norma McIntosh and the jury since Monday.

Yesterday, the court heard evidence from Susan Johnson, the mother of the child, who outlined what Mallette told her in relation to the death of her son.

On being questioned by prosecutor Donald Bryan, the mother gave evidence that on June 20, 2005, she left her son at home with Mallette, with whom she had a relationship, and went to work. She told the court that later that morning, she received a call from the accused who told her that after she left for work, the child started crying and shaking the grille. She said that Mallette told her he slapped the child and told him to lie down on the bed.

Tried to revive child

She went on to say that Mallette told her that he was in the living room when he heard the child fall from the bed. He rushed into the room and saw the child almost motionless on the floor. He then gave the child something to drink and splashed water on his face to revive him.

However, she agreed with suggestions made by defence attorney Valerie Neita-Robertson that on some occasions, she would have to slap the child, as he would throw temper tantrums. On the other hand, she dismissed suggestions that the child would slam himself against anything in his way whenever he threw these tantrums. She also told the court that she was concerned about her son's behaviour but did not think of it as a medical issue.

"I was concerned at times about his behaviour, but I would tell myself that he got it from me because I have a bad temper," she said.

Ms. Johnson's testimony contradicts that of Ann-Marie Haye, the accused man's cousin, who told the court on Monday that the accused had told her that he had punched the child in the abdomen as he was crying and shaking the grille, after his mother left for work, and that the child was not moving after receiving the blow. She told the court that both she and Mallette tried to resuscitate the boy.

The post-mortem report on file reveals that the child died from a blunt force injury to the abdomen.

tashieka.mair@gleanerjm.com