Man accused of baby murder found gaming by police

A man was found gaming on his phone by police after shaking his baby daughter so hard he caused "catastrophic" brain injuries, a court has heard.

Thomas Holford, 24, is accused of murdering Everleigh Stroud, who was rushed to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent, on 21 April 2021.

She remained there in a vegetative state until she died, aged 14 months, on 27 May 2022.

Holford, of Ramsgate, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in November last year, denies murder and causing actual bodily harm.

On Tuesday, jurors at Canterbury Crown Court heard that Everleigh also had bone fractures, bruising to her face, atrophy to her eyes leading to her going blind and injuries to her anus.

Prosecuting, Eloise Marshall KC told the court: "There is no dispute those injuries were inflicted by Thomas Holford," adding that they had been caused deliberately.

At the time of the incident, Holford was living with his then 16-year-old girlfriend and her parents at an address in Wallwood Road, Ramsgate.

His partner had stayed with a friend on 20 April to celebrate her birthday, leaving Holford to care for Everleigh overnight, the court heard.

The next morning Everleigh's grandmother Kelly Stroud called 999, telling the operator the five-week-old baby "looked like she was in agony" and was unresponsive and barely breathing.

Police attending the scene remarked that Holford appeared to be in a "good mood" as he played games on his phone while his daughter was being rushed to hospital.

They also noted a bag of herbal cannabis and a grinder next to a baby's bottle in the room where he had slept with Everleigh.

Ms Marshall added Holford "showed little emotion" and did not answer the majority of police questions when interviewed, except to say that he would not do anything to hurt his daughter.

The trial continues.

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