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A girl of three was killed by her father after he discovered her mother was having an affair, a court heard today.

Lia Green was covered in bruises when her lifeless body was taken to hospital.

She had been punched or kicked in the stomach so hard that part of her bowel was severed.

It was an injury normally seen in children who had been involved in car accidents.

The jury was told Richard Green, 23, who denies murdering his daughter, was angry after discovering his girlfriend Natalie Critchley, 21 - Lia’s mother - had a lover.

Peter Wright, prosecuting, said: “In the period leading up to the death of Lia, there was considerable friction between the parents.

“The relationship between them continued but it was far from harmonious.

“The evidence points to a building and simmering resentment towards his partner Natalie Critchley.”

In August last year paramedics were called to the couple’s house where they found the youngster unresponsive.

She was taken to hospital and declared dead, despite attempts to revive her.

The previous evening the home computer had been used to search the NHS Direct website with the term: “Three-year-old hurting head and being sick”.

Mr Wright told the jury: “Richard Green and Natalie Critchley only contacted emergency services when they realised Lia’s condition had deteriorated to such an extent that it could no longer be concealed.

“It’s a sad feature of this case that had they acted more swiftly then Lia’s life could have been saved but they chose to try to conceal what happened.”

(Image: Lancashire Constabulary)

He also told them: “When the body of Lia was examined it was discovered that the cause of her death was not some freak injury or terrible accident we say, but blunt force trauma to her abdomen that had been delivered with such force that it had caused massive and ultimately fatal internal injuries.

“Part of her bowel had been completely severed by the force of the blow.

“Her condition had then progressively deteriorated and eventually she died from complications arising from this traumatic injury to her internal organs.

“In addition, Lia was found to be extensively bruised, many were less than 48 hours old, but some were older.”

He added: “She had a significant number of bruises. They were to her head, neck, chest, abdomen, both upper limbs, both lower limbs, buttocks and back.

“The pattern, distribution and differing ages of the injuries were consistent with what’s described as ‘non-accidental injury’.

“This, we say, was evidence of physical abuse and repeatedly so.

"This was physical abuse from which she ought to have been protected by her parents, rather than exposed.”

Mr Wright said the abuse “eventually” led to her death.

A post mortem concluded the cause of death was a blunt force abdominal trauma injury.

Lia’s dad was arrested the next day but told officers his daughter had fallen from park swings.

Green, from Preston, Lancashire, denies murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.

Critchley denies causing or allowing the death of a child.

The trial at Preston Crown Court continues.