A jury has been being sworn in for the trial of a couple accused of causing the death of a young baby, who died of a “catastrophic” head injury.

Four-month-old Eli Cox suffered fatal injuries at an address in Lapwing Close, Minster-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey on April 27 last year.

Danny Shepherd, 25, and Katherine Cox, 33, deny causing or allowing the death of a child between April 12 and 28 and causing or allowing physical harm to a child.

They also denied possessing the Class B drug amphetamine on April 14.

The jury of nine men and three women was sent away until tomorrow morning, when the case will be opened.

A previous hearing at Medway Magistrates’ Court was told the baby suffered several injuries, including to the brain.

He had 28 fractures to 19 bones and was alleged to have been exposed to amphetamine and cocaine.

The child suffered a cardiac arrest and was placed on life support, but died on April 27, two weeks after ambulance crews were called to his home.

High Court judge Mr Justice Stuart-Smith told the panel: "This is a case that received a lot of publicity. It involves the death of a very young child on the Isle of Sheppey last year.

"These two people are innocent until a jury decides they are guilty.

"The most important thing is we have a jury who will try the case purely on the evidence they hear in court, excluding everything else."

The trial is expected to last four weeks.

Shepherd and Cox have been bailed to an address in East Street, Faversham.