A TEENAGER jointly charged with his girlfriend of murdering their newborn baby told police that he had tripped and fallen on the child, a court has heard.

Jane Hunt

A TEENAGER jointly charged with his girlfriend of murdering their newborn baby told police that he had tripped and fallen on the child, a court has heard.

The 17-year-old said he had taken the infant for a walk outside shortly after his birth and had fallen over with him in his arms.

“He hits his head first and I land on him,” said the youth in a police interview read out to a jury at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday.

The youth and his 16-year-old girlfriend, who was only 15 at the time of the baby's birth in October last year have denied murder. The pair cannot be named for legal reasons.

The court has heard that the little boy died after suffering a fractured skull and a broken arm shortly after his secret birth during the night at the schoolgirl's home in the Eye area.

During his police interview the youth said that he was “shocked and devastated” when he landed on the baby and said he hadn't noticed any head injuries to the child when he got to his feet.

“I didn't examine him. I was too petrified to even check and look,” he said.

He said he put his ear to the baby's mouth and could not hear any noise. Realising the baby was dead he panicked and took him to an alleyway where he left him wrapped in a towel and covered in grass.

The trial continues today.