Man accused of murdering grandson denies hitting him

A man accused of murdering his two-year-old grandson did not slap or hit him, he has told a court.

Ethan Ives-Griffiths died of a "catastrophic" brain injury on 16 August 2021 after collapsing at his grandparents' home.

Ethan's grandfather Michael Ives, 47, and grandmother Kerry Ives, 46, both deny murder, causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a child.

Ethan's mother Shannon Ives, 28, from Mold, Flintshire, denies causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a child.

On 13 August, the day before Ethan's fatal collapse, Michael Ives said he was in the living room when he heard a bang, turned and saw Ethan "lying on the floor".

He said he was "panicking" because Ethan was lying still and "just staring" for a couple of minutes. He eventually came round and "seemed fine".

He said he told Shannon "we need to try to get him to the doctor's" and that she said she would have phoned them but there were no appointments.

Asked why they took Ethan shopping later that day, he said: "Ethan said he wanted to come", and was "his normal, quiet self".

The next evening he said Ethan had a red mark on the corner of his eyebrow after he had been in the bedroom with Shannon.

He said when he asked Shannon how it had happened she told him "he probably fell".

He said Ethan had been watching TV when he suddenly collapsed again. Ethan's legs, he said, were "like jelly, he couldn't stand up".

He said he laid him on the floor while Kerry shouted for Shannon.

Despite attempts to bring him round Ethan never regained consciousness and died in Alder Hey Hospital two days later.

Michael Ives said he had never harmed Ethan in any way.

Mr Ives gave evidence in the witness box at the start of his defence case at Mold Crown Court on Monday.

He told the court his own upbringing, in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, was a "bad one".

He said he met his wife when he was 18 and she gave birth to Shannon, their eldest child, about a year later.

He told the jury that Shannon was "quick-tempered".

He said if Ethan was misbehaving "she would start shouting and screaming" at him.

He said she would become physical and give him a "slap to the back of the head".

Ethan would sometimes "just stand there looking at her and laugh at her" which made her "more angry".

Mr Ives said he would "pull her up over it and say 'you shouldn't be doing that'".

He said Shannon told him: "It's her child so we should mind our own business".

He said Ethan would bite his bottom lip drawing blood and Shannon would respond by giving him "a backhander to the mouth".

He said he saw this happen "a couple of times".

Asked by his defence barrister David Elias if he or Kerry Ives had ever physically told a child off or slapped or hit them he said "no."

Mr Ives was shown an image from the family's home security CCTV of him carrying Ethan by holding only his upper arm.

When questioned why he did that, he said: "The grass had been cut and there were nettles. But I know that's no excuse."

He was also asked how he should have carried Ethan and he said "I should've picked him up and put him on my side with his legs round my waist."

The trial continues.