A STOWMARKET father-of-three accused of killing one of his twin sons was found lying on top of the baby on a sofa as he suffocated, a court heard today.

A STOWMARKET father-of-three accused of killing one of his twin sons was found lying on top of the baby on a sofa as he suffocated, a court heard today.

James Tuffs, 21, now living at Forest Road, Onehouse, was lying on four-month-old Byron when he died, according to the child's mother, 18-year-old Zoe O'Leary.

Tuffs, who pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of baby Byron and two counts of cruelty to Byron and his twin brother, Tyrese, is standing trial at Norwich Crown Court.

The hearing began today and is expected to last three weeks.

Tuffs is said to have been caring for the boys in the front room of their Hill Rise home in Stowmarket while Ms O'Leary slept upstairs with their daughter on January 22 2004.

Oliver Sells, prosecuting, said: "The mother came downstairs and saw the defendant lying on the sofa on his back. She noticed Byron's trousers and body were underneath his knees and she shouted at him to get up.

"Tyrese was on a quilt on the floor.

"She said that Byron had gone grey, his nappy had not been changed and he looked dead. She shouted at the defendant to leave the house and he did."

The twins were taken to West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds where Byron was pronounced dead. Examinations found extensive internal injuries to both - many of which showed signs of being non-accidental.

Tuffs was accused in court of preferring to play computer games than caring for his children.

It was revealed just two weeks before that Tyrese, who was found to have the more extensive internal injuries, had stopped breathing while in Tuffs' care and received medical attention.

The case continues.