Father saw partner ‘slam’ baby Kristal
rossparry.co.uk / Chris Fairweather Picture shows Jessica Hopkinson mother of baby Krystal Davison Leeds on trial Crown Court for the death of her seven-week-old daughter 14/01/2013
A father accused of causing his baby daughter’s death has told a jury he saw his partner “slam” the baby into a changing mat two days before she died.
Lee Davison, 28, told Leeds Crown Court his girlfriend Jessica Hopkinson, 19, handled their seven-week-old daughter Kristal Davison roughly while they were rowing.
Both deny a charge of causing or allowing the death of the baby. Kristal died at Pinderfields Hospital, hours after paramedics were called to their home at Ashleigh Avenue, Pontefract, on April 12.
Davison said the couple had rowed two days earlier. He said: “While I was downstairs Jessica was arguing with me in the living room. At the time we were arguing she was in the middle of changing Kristal.
“She slammed Krisal into the changing mat. I went mad at her and started shouting and bawling at her for doing wrong.
“She bounced the baby’s head on the changing mat while still having Kristal’s legs in her hands.”
Julian Goose QC, prosecuting, earlier said Kristal was subjected to a “catastrophic” catalogue of injuries at the hand of one or both parents, including brain injuries, bleeding behind the eyes and fractures to her left leg and several ribs.
Giving evidence, Davison denied doing anything to cause the injuries to his daughter, although he admitted both he and Hopkinson “had a temper”.
He said during arguments Hopkinson would “chuck cups of coffee or chuck things at me”. He added: “I do have a temper, Jessica can have different mood swings, one moment she can be alright, next moment she can fly off the handle.”
The case continues.
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Thursday 23 May 2013
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