Father played with his phone as police quizzed him over baby's brain injuries, murder trial hears

Daily Mail​

21 hours ago

A dad accused of murdering his baby daughter by shaking her so hard he caused catastrophic brain injuries, played with his phone while being questioned by police, a jury has heard.
Thomas Holford, now 24, is accused of killing Everleigh Stroud following an incident at a home in Ramsgate, Kent on April 21, 2021.
The youngster, who was just five weeks old at the time, was rushed to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in nearby Margate. She remained there in a vegetative state until she died over a year later on May 27, 2022 - aged 14 months.
Holford, who at the time had been living with Everleigh's 16-year-old mum, Casey Stroud, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in November last year - but denies murder and causing actual bodily harm.
During his trial, Canterbury Crown Court heard how Ms Stroud had left Everleigh in Holford's care while she went to stay with a friend on the night of April 20 to celebrate her birthday.
When she returned, on the morning of her 17th birthday, she found her daughter grey in colour with marks to 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.
Holford spoke of not seeing or knowing of 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, the court was told, 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 and other drug paraphernalia, was found in the 'untidy and crammed' bedroom he had shared with Casey and Everleigh.
Holford was arrested and taken to Margate Police Station, where he was placed under constant supervision.
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'.
He told the jury: 'On at least one occasion he showed me the phone and asked me to choose from a list of games from the app store on that phone to download.'
Everleigh's injuries, which ultimately led to her death in hospital on May 27, 2022, included catastrophic brain haemorrhages and multiple bone fractures.
Jurors heard that while it is accepted by Holford that he inflicted them, he disputes the prosecution case that he intended to kill Everleigh - or cause her really serious harm.
Holford also denies a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm - in relation to three anal tears said by an expert to have been caused to Everleigh by penetration of a penis, finger, or object.
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.
'I saw no change of emotion.'
The court heard that Everleigh, who was born on March 13, 2021, had no health concerns at the time she was assaulted.
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.