Man on trial for boy's murder 23 years ago after woman recalls 'haunting' memories

AN UNEMPLOYED man has gone on trial for the murder of his toddler stepson more than 23 years ago after the youngster’s sister recalled the “haunting” memory to a counsellor.

A court was told Kerry Harrison was only three when she saw Stephen Knox, of Keighley, drag her brother Mark up the stairs of their home and then throw him down because he had been running around making a noise.

The two-year-old died hours later from a brain haemorrhage on December 12, 1986, but Ms Harrison kept the incident secret after Knox allegedly threatened her with the same fate if she told anyone, a jury at Nottingham Crown heard.

An inquest at the time ruled that Mark’s death at the house in Leicester was accidental even though investigators could not explain an injury to the back of his head.

It was only after Ms Harrison, now 26, told her secret to a counsellor in early 2007 that police launched a murder probe.

Knox, of Ingrow Lane, Keighley, denies murder.

Peter Joyce QC, prosecuting, said: “For years Kerry had been haunted terribly by the memory of her brother’s death.

“She recalls Mr Knox hitting Mark which she says was a usual course of conduct. It was about bedtime and Mark was crying.

“The defendant was hitting him and he grabbed him by the arm and dragged him up the stairs.

“When they got to the top, Mark was sent down the stairs, pushed, thrown or kicked. He went all the way down to the bottom and was screaming.”

The boy was discovered lying lifeless and cold in an upstairs bedroom. Knox would later tell police that Mark missed a step and fell down three steps.

However, the jury heard this explanation could not have caused the severe injury.

Dr Clive Bouch, the pathologist who conducted the post mortem examination, said Ms Harrison’s account could explain it.

Ms Harrison said: “Now I have been speaking about it to the police it’s helping the memory go. It’s something I don’t want to see when I shut my eyes.”

Under cross examination by Knox’s barrister Mark Wall QC, Ms Harrison denied that she did not remember accurately what happened that night.

The case continues.