The trial of two parents accused of killing their baby daughter had to be halted abruptly yesterday when one of the defendants fell ill.

Dr. Amenemhat Waset Amen-Ra Tamerry, 48, and his wife Maatkai Hatsheput Tamerry, 36, are charged with unlawfully killing their ten-month-old daughter, A?Maya.

The couple were formerly known as Clark Godwin and Regina Woods but had their names legally changed.

A?Maya?s mother ? who had already been absent from some of the proceedings after she elected on Wednesday not to sit in the court to hear testimony about and see photographs of her daughter?s autopsy ? returned to court briefly yesterday but then fell ill.

Chief Justice Richard Ground adjourned the trial until Tuesday.

Prior to this development however, the court heard from forensic pathologist Dr. John Obafunwa that A?Maya had a severely compromised immune system at the time of her death, which manifested itself in numerous illnesses. The baby had a yeast infection in the eyes, intestine, skin and stomach, he said. It was also ?riddled? through the lungs.

?The immune system was no doubt compromised,? he said.

Yeast infections are common in immuno-compromised patients, he said, but ?in this patient it was all over?.

The extent of the condition was extremely rare.

?How long would this infection have been going on? ? asked Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Kulandra Ratneser.

Dr. Obafunwa said that it would have been present in the lungs for days and on the skin for weeks.

A?Maya?s vaginal opening had also turned dark, he added.

The court also heard evidence from Dr. Obafunwa yesterday on the possible effects of sea moss ? which the defendants have admitted A?Maya was regularly fed.

Sea moss is a concoction, popular in the Caribbean, which can contain kelp, spices, herbs, ground nuts, ground fruit and either cow?s, goat?s or condensed milk. A?Maya?s last meal before her death on March 1, 2002 was sea moss and Quinoa (a grain). Dr. Obafunwa said sea moss also contains iodine, bromine, iron, vitamin A and B, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and ammonium sulphate.

A?Maya had very high levels of potassium in her body, he added: ?We know the child was given sea moss and sea moss contains a very high potassium content.?

The amount of potassium found in A?Maya?s body would have been from a combination of factors including sea moss, acidosis and sepsis, he said, however.

Dr. Obafunwa said that, in animal studies, sea moss was found to lower cholesterol levels, limit food absorption, reduce the amount of secretions in the stomach, lower blood pressure, thin the blood, reduce the level of immunity, and antagonise the effect of enzymes. It is also reported to cause stomach ulcers but can be used to treat ulcers if they have already formed.

Dr. Obafunwa told the court that sea moss is used to treat colds, bronchitis and tuberculosis.

He said that no human data is available on its use and no dosage has been established in controlled clinical studies.

Adverse reactions to sea moss in humans have included lowered blood pressure, diarrhoea, kidney disease, bleeding, lower immune system, stomach pains, stomach ulcers and hypertension, he added. Dr. Obafunwa said sea moss is not recommended for breast-feeding or pregnant patients and it should also be avoided in infant formulas. He said his concern would be that nothing is known of it caloric content.

?I stand to be corrected by a paediatrician but seaweed (present in sea moss) is not a source of food for a baby,? he said.

Dr. Obafunwa said he expected seaweed would have adverse affects on a child.

Dr. Obafunwa will continue his testimony in front of the ten-woman, two-man jury on Tuesday.