Stepfather 'beat five-year-old to death then attacked mother to stop her getting help'

Child taken to hospital but died from bleeding on the brain

Alex Malcolm suffered fatal head and stomach injuries

A man delivered a fatal beating to his five-year-old stepson before attacking the boy's mother to prevent her seeking help, a court has heard.

Marvyn Iheanacho, 38, is accused of causing Alex Malcolm fatal head and stomach injuries on the evening of 20 November last year.

Mr Iheanacho, from Hounslow in west London, is standing trial at Woolwich Crown Court, where he denies murdering the boy.

It is claimed Mr Ibeanacho flew into a rage after the child left his trainers in the park.

He then rang Alex's mother to tell her he had fallen asleep, then attacked her at her home to prevent her seeking help, the prosecution alleged, according to MailOnline.

Alex was taken to hospital three hours later for surgery but died two days afterwards, jurors were told.

A postmortem determined Alex died from bleeding on the brain. A pathologist found bruising all over his body and inside his abdomen.

Witnesses heard a "child's fearful voice saying 'sorry'", loud banging, and a man screaming about the loss of a shoe, jurors were told.

But Sally O'Neil QC, for the defence, suggested the noises the witnesses heard were the park gates being locked or rattled by someone else.

The trial, expected to last between two to three weeks, continues.