Grandfather's anguish at baby's death

Jane Hunt

THE father of a Suffolk schoolgirl jointly accused with her boyfriend of murdering their newborn baby has told a court of his “overwhelming guilt” at not doing more to help his daughter on the night she gave birth at their home.

The man, who was unaware that his 15-year-old daughter was pregnant, said he regretted not paying her more attention when she complained of having a stomach ache shortly before he went to bed that night.

He said that since the incident he had discussed what had happened with his wife. “We are both so sad we didn't do anything and we both feel absolutely terrible,” he said.

The man, who broke down in tears while giving evidence, said that since the death of his grandson he had been consumed with “overwhelming guilt” and had felt suicidal.

He said that during the night his daughter gave birth he had been disturbed by his two dogs and had then heard a scuffling noise outside followed by the sound of a baby crying.

“I wish to God I'd got out of bed and looked out of the window now,” he said.

“My dogs alerted me and told me something was going on outside. Because I was tired I didn't get out of bed.”

The girl, who is now 16 and her boyfriend, now 17, who cannot be identified because of their age, deny murdering their newborn baby in the Eye area in October last year.

The court has heard that the couple met on the internet in 2006 and when the girl was 14 her boyfriend had moved in with her family and they had been allowed to share a double bed.

Late on October 6 last year the girl had complained to her parents, who were unaware that she was pregnant, of having stomach ache and they had gone to bed after advising her to take painkillers.

During the night the girl had given birth and the baby had died shortly afterwards.

A post-mortem examination showed the baby boy had suffered a fractured skull, which caused serious brain damage, and a broken arm, neither of which the prosecution say could have been caused accidentally.

The morning after the birth the boy had allegedly asked two of his brothers for help and had taken them to a nearby alleyway where they found the dead baby lying face down covered in grass and leaves.

The body was placed in a sports bag and at lunchtime on October 7 the boy dialled 999 saying his girlfriend had given birth at 2am and the baby had died.

Both defendants later told conflicting stories about the circumstances of the baby's birth and what had happened afterwards.

The trial continues today.