PATHOLOGISTS were unable to establish the cause of death of Toby Woods, despite extensive post-mortem examinations.

Home Office pathologist Dr William Lawler and paediatric pathologist Dr Melanie Newbold examined Toby's body at Blackburn Royal Infirmary, both reporting the cause of death as unascertained.

Dr Lawler said he couldn't find any evidence to suggest Toby had been harmed but admitted that he was unable to rule it out.

He told the inquest that he had concerns over a statement made by controversial paediatrician Sir Roy Meadow to police investigating Toby's death.

He said: "I think he was implying that smothering was something that needed to be considered seriously but I think it is fair to say that there is no evidence from a pathology perspective."

Consultant forensic pathologist Dr John Rutherford carried out a second post-mortem on the tot's body and also gave the cause of death as unascertained.

During the post-mortem examinations retinal haemorrhages were discovered in Toby's eyes and ophthalmology expert Dr Richard Bonshek was called in to take a closer look.

Dr Bonshek said that these were not recognised as a sign of smothering but added that he was also unaware of any cases where gastro-oesophageal reflux disorder had caused such haemorrhages.

  • A HARROWING tape recording of the 999 call that Donna Hanson made when Toby stopped breathing was played to the hushed inquest.

Miss Hanson broke down in tears and left the courtroom as jury members listened to the eight-and-a-half minute tape, in which an ambulance controller gave her instructions on how to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on her baby.

The inquest heard the tearful mum tell how her baby had stopped breathing and followed her agonising wait for ambulance crews to arrive.

The jury members also heard recordings of two phone calls that Miss Hanson made when her son 10-month-old son Ashley collapsed less than a year previously.

In one call she was so upset that Ashley's dad Robert Woods had to take the phone from her and follow the instructions to try to revive their young son.

  • CORONER Michael Singleton gave jury members a day off on Wednesday after a medical expert who had been invited to give evidence was delayed. He was due to start summing up yesterday afternoon and it was expected that the jury would be sent out to consider its verdict this morning.