Following an attack which saw a six-week-old baby girl hospitalised with 19 rib fractures, an Edinburgh man has been acquitted of attempted murder.
Nathan Elliot, 20, had faced a charge of attempting to murder the child at a flat in Gorgie on 15 or 16 March 2018.
The attempted murder allegation includes claims he pushed and pulled the child, "forcefully compressing" her body and causing injury.
Elliot had denied the charges and lodged a special defence of incrimination maintaining that if the assaults were committed, it was not by him, but by the child's mother.
The High Court in Edinburgh trial ended after two days (despite there having been expectation that it would last for six) as judge Lady Scott acquitted the kitchen porter on Thursday.
Elliot, from Edinburgh, was also cleared of another charge of assaulting the child by striking or seizing her.
To receive one WhatsApp message a day with Edinburgh Live's headlines, as well as breaking news alerts, text NEWS to 07899067815. Then add the number to your contacts as 'Edinburgh Live'.
For more stories from across the Edinburgh area like our Facebook page , or follow us on Twitter and Instagram .
You can also subscribe to our newsletter: enter your email in the blue box at the top of this article.
