SCREAMS were heard coming from the Southampton flat occupied by a young couple the night their six-week-old died, neighbours have told a court.

One neighbour said the couple, on trial over the baby’s death, would “constantly” argue with each other, while another said the young parents were often seen partying.

But on the night the infant was killed, one neighbour said the screams coming from the property were "not normal" , prompting her to call the police.

She told the court she heard the screams of a female coming from the room and banging sounds as if someone was attempting to break down the door.

The evidence was heard on day two of the trial, in which the baby’s 17-year-old father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces an allegation of murder.

His 19-year-old partner, the baby’s mother, who also cannot be named, faces an allegation she neglected the baby.

The pair both sat in the dock as Prosecutor Adam Feest QC started the day by showing jury members CCTV of the building in which the baby’s mother lived.

The female defendant’s sister then gave evidence on how she had let her sister borrow £15 on the night before the baby’s death.

She said the defendant had asked for the money to pay for electricity bill and that the couple seemed “calm and happy” during the visit.

The court then heard evidence from a friend of the female defendant.

She said the couple had brought a crate of beer and a bottle of vodka with them to the party, which took place in a nearby flat.

Friends of the couple said they took it in turns to look after the baby during the party, which finished around 1.30am.

The witness said she received two missed calls from the female defendant, around 4.20am, before later learning about the baby’s death.

A neighbour of the couple then gave evidence, in which they said the couple would be arguing most days.

She told the court: "It was all the time, seriously. Sometimes it was at stupid o'clock."

But on the night of the baby’s death the witness said it was “not normal.”

She said: "It sounded like she was screaming. It sounded like she was scared or like something had happened. It wasn't nice."

The witness's partner also gave evidence, in which he claimed he heard a female voice shout: “Get off me.”

It comes after the court was told how the was found with severe fractures to his body, as well as sustaining bites marks to its nose.

Winchester Crown Court heard a 17-year-old boy, who is charged with the baby’s murder, assaulted the child after a night of drinking alcohol, the prosecution said.

Prosecutor Adam Feest QC told the court: “The baby had a twisted femur which would have caused indescribable pain for the child.

"It can’t be said this is from a single drop from someone’s arms, or from an accidental fall from a sofa

“The experts are highly suspicious that the baby was swung by the leg with his head striking a hard surface.”

The teenager and a 19-year-old woman, who is charged with child neglect, both say the baby fell to the ground during the early hours of February 11, at a flat in Southampton.

During his opening Mr Feest QC said the baby had been fit and well at 2.30am but neighbours heard screams around 3am and the baby was injured before 4.30am.

The court heard experts found further injuries in the days before his death.

Rib fractures, which were consistent with squeezing, were discovered, as well as a fracture to inner part of the baby’s collarbone.

As police continued to search the home after the 17-year-old had been arrested, they found bloodstained baby wipes in the bin and blood on the cot.

The court was told blood was found on the woman’s jacket. Police tests found it matched the baby’s DNA. Mr Feest QC says that in interviews, the 19-year-old gave no reason for it to be there.

The 17-year-old was found in a blue Adidas t-shirt, which had the baby’s blood on it. It is consistent, the crown says, with a man who had been holding a baby bleeding from its nose.

In the female’s interview with police, she described the father as being “heavy-handed with the baby", the prosecutor says.

She said he would throw the six-year-old inappropriately in the air but when he was asked to not do it, he would get defensive about it.

The mother continued to say that she knew the father had bitten the baby, but did not see it herself, the court heard.

She said when she asked him, he responded: “I did not mean to do it…I did not realise I had bitten it that hard.”

The pair, who both cannot be identified for legal reason, deny the charges.

The trial continues