8 years ago
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Father 'crushed baby girl's skull while left in charge of her for just 20 minutes
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| Tragic death: Eight-week-old Grace, whose father allegedly either kicked or stamped on the back of her head, or may have crushed her skull by pressing it against a hard surface such as a floor |
A father crushed his eight-week-old baby’s skull while he was left in charge of her for just 20 minutes after secretly drinking whisky and vodka, a court heard today.
Richard Barnes, 27, allegedly went to buy more alcohol after inflicting the horrific injuries on baby Grace last November at the family home in Castleford, West Yorkshire.
The Haribo sweets employee either kicked or stamped on the back of her head, or he may have crushed her skull by pressing it against a hard surface such as a floor, prosecutors said.
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| Couple: Richard Barnes, 27, pictured with Stephanie Rudd, his partner since 2006. The family home they shared was 'spotless', the prosecution said, and there were no concerns about Grace's care during her short lif e |
‘There is no doubt that he did cause those injuries in a deliberate and unlawful assault upon his daughter,’ Richard Mansell QC, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court today.
‘When he inflicted these injuries, he can only have intended to cause her really serious bodily harm and therefore the prosecution alleges he is guilty of her murder.’
He said the incident happened ‘during a short period of time when he was in sole charge of Grace while her mother Stephanie was out of the house’.
There were no concerns about Grace’s care during her short life, and the family home Barnes shared with Stephanie Rudd, his partner since 2006, was ‘spotless’, the prosecution said.
But Barnes had a drink problem which he hid from Miss Rudd - and before attacking Grace he drank at least four miniature bottles of whisky, two vodka miniatures and two beers, the court was told.
He filmed himself in his bathroom drinking two whiskies that lunchtime, saying ‘Pretty strong is that’ before belching. After the attack he bought two more miniatures and didn’t ring 999, the jury heard.
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