A MOTHER and father have been charged in connection with the death of their six-week-old son.

Shakeel Hussain, aged 25, of Balcary Grove, Heaton , has been charged with the murder of Mohammed Ismail, his son, who died at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool on January 6, just after 9pm.

And Hussain and his wife of five years, Rabeel Malik, aged 22, are charged with failing to take steps to protect the child from harm when there was a significant risk of physical harm being caused by an unlawful incident by a member of the household.

The couple appeared at Bolton Magistrates Court yesterday.

They spoke only to confirm their names and addresses.

The court heard that the child suffered a bruise to the right side of his head with an underlying fracture, swelling to his brain and haemorrhages to both of his eyes.

The cause of death, established by a post-mortem examination, was said to be head trauma.

Mohammed was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital on January 5 then transferred to Alder Hey Hospital, where he was on a life support machine.

Hussain, who wore a blue hooded jacket with orange toggles, was remanded into custody.

Malik, who wore a pink head scarf and sari, was granted bail.

The case was translated in Urdu by an interpreter.

Malik was bailed on the conditions she remains living at Balcary Grove, Heaton, she is not to have contact with children under 18 without supervision and that she reports to a police station each Tuesday and Friday.

The prosecution appealed against the decision to grant Malik bail.

Both defendants will appear at Manchester Crown Square court tomorrow.