The 14-month old baby was left on life support
A FATHER played on his phone in a “good mood” while being quizzed by cops over the d.e.a.t.h of his baby daughter, a court heard.
The 24-year-old Thomas Holford is charged with k.i.l.l.i.n.g his infant daughter by shaking her.
Following the incident at her home in Ramsgate, Kent, the five-week-old infant was taken to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital.
Everleigh Stroud remained there in a vegetative state until she d.i.e.d over a year later in 2022 – aged 14 months.
Her dad had been living with her 16-year-old mum at time and pleaded guilty to m.a.n.s.l.a.u.g.h.t.e.r in November last year.
He denies m.u.r.d.e.r and causing actual bodily harm.
Everleigh’s injuries, which ultimately led to her d.e.a.t.h in hospital on May 27, 2022, included c.a.t.a.s.t.r.o.p.h.i.c b.r.a.i.n haemorrhages and m.u.l.t.i.p.l.e bone f.r.a.c.t.u.r.e.s.
Jurors heard that while it is accepted by Holford that he inflicted them, he disputes the prosecution case that he intended to k.i.l.l Everleigh – or cause her really serious harm.
Holford also denies a charge of a.s.s.a.u.l.t causing actual bodily harm.
On the evening of April 20, Canterbury Crown Court heard that Everleigh’s mother, Casey Stroud, had left daughter in Holford’s care so she could spend the night with a friend to celebrate her birthday.
When she returned, on the morning of her 17th birthday, she found her daughter grey in colour with marks on her face.
While Everleigh was rushed to hospital, Holford was questioned by police in the family living room.
But jurors heard that he was “very relaxed” and in “quite a good mood” while detailing the events of the previous night.
He repeatedly used his phone, and at one point in a conversation, the first-time dad asked a sergeant to pick a game for him to download from his app store.
PC Darren Smith, who recorded his interactions with Holford on his body-worn camera, told the court: “When he entered the room he seemed to be in quite a good mood.
“He didn’t seem to be showing any emotion. He was quite easily conversing with me.”
The court heard – and watched the footage – of Holford describing having fed Everleigh two or three times during the night and settling her to sleep.
Holford said he recalled hearing her “whimper”, but thought she was just dreaming.
The dad said he didn’t see any bruises on his daughter until a “very upset” Casey had woken him.
He also referred to his low mood and an upcoming appointment with the community mental health team.
Asked by prosecutor Eloise Marshall if the defendant’s demeanour had changed during their conversation, PC Smith replied: “Not to any drastic amount.”
Ms Marshall then asked: “What was he actually doing while you were talking to him?”
The officer responded: “Mainly playing on his mobile phone.”
In much of the footage, Holford could be seen holding the device between his hands.
At one stage, Holford recalled how he feared he had swaddled Everleigh “quite tightly” when she whimpered.
He then told PC Smith: “It’s weird. Before I had a kid, I just thought ‘kids are just kids’.
“Then, you have a kid and it’s like, ‘Woah, step back’. It puts everything into perspective, doesn’t it?
“Before, I didn’t feel like I had a purpose. I wasn’t working. But now I feel everything has just fallen into place.”
Holford also revealed that he had smoked cannabis at around 10am the previous day, and would use it daily in the morning for a stomach issue.
A small amount of herbal cannabis, along with a grinder, was found in the “untidy and crammed” bedroom he had shared with Casey and Everleigh.
After being detained, Holford was brought to the Margate Police Station.
PC Smith told the jury he heard the defendant “speaking freely” of how he was often told by his girlfriend on waking that he had been “verbally aggressive” towards her – but had no knowledge of doing so.
Sgt Benjamin Patterson also gave evidence about his interactions with Holford, who he described as being “very interested in his phone, very relaxed and distant”.
During cross-examination, Holford’s barrister, Jo Martin KC, suggested the dad’s presentation could have been “a delayed reaction”, which PC Smith agreed could be the case.
However, when she suggested Holford had been talking “randomly” while in the custody cell, PC Smith replied: “He was calm the whole time I was with him. I couldn’t work out his mindset at all.
“Over the whole day, he was on a level. I don’t remember seeing any emotion – something that seemed strange considering what had happened.”
Jurors also heard that in visits to the family home by health workers on March 30 and April 6, Casey said Holford was doing most of the night feeds so she could rest.
It was also noted that he “really helped out” and was happy to do so.
The trial continues.
