Man accused of murder says he was alone with baby

A father accused of the murder of his baby daughter has told a jury he pleaded guilty to her manslaughter as he "didn't believe in ghosts" and she was in his sole care.

Thomas Holford was 20 when five-week-old Everleigh Stroud suffered catastrophic injuries after spending the night alone with him at her maternal grandparents' home in Ramsgate, Kent.

She was found by her mother on 21 April 2021, and later found to have severe brain damage and broken ribs and legs, dying 13 months later when life support was withdrawn.

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

Giving evidence in his defence at Canterbury Crown Court, Holford was asked why he had pleaded guilty to manslaughter when he said he remembered nothing of the night when Everleigh sustained her injuries.

He said: "I don't believe in ghosts, I don't think it was someone breaking in. She was in my sole care. It makes it apparent it must have been me.

"There was no-one else."

He said he knew having a newborn baby could be stressful, but "the majority of the memories are positive, loving, cherishing memories with my daughter so I don't think there was intent there".

On Tuesday the jury was shown images of the room he shared with the baby's mother Casey Stroud.

She had been out that night as it was the evening of her 17th birthday.

The photos showed the baby's bottle next to cannabis paraphernalia and smoked joints, the court heard.

The trial continues.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.