This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-36311403
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Ben Butler said 'I'm going to get blamed' over Ellie death | Ben Butler said 'I'm going to get blamed' over Ellie death |
(35 minutes later) | |
A father accused of murdering his six-year-old daughter delayed calling an ambulance because he feared being blamed for her death. | A father accused of murdering his six-year-old daughter delayed calling an ambulance because he feared being blamed for her death. |
Ben Butler, 36, told the Old Bailey he "panicked" and just laid on the floor after finding Ellie hurt in their home in Sutton, south west London. | Ben Butler, 36, told the Old Bailey he "panicked" and just laid on the floor after finding Ellie hurt in their home in Sutton, south west London. |
Mr Butler did not call 999 and when his partner came home they spoke about his wrongful conviction for shaking Ellie as a baby and "how it would look". | Mr Butler did not call 999 and when his partner came home they spoke about his wrongful conviction for shaking Ellie as a baby and "how it would look". |
He denies murder and child cruelty. | He denies murder and child cruelty. |
Mr Butler told the court he was having a "lazy day" with his daughter and had taken a nap before finding her lying in her room with her eyes wide open. | Mr Butler told the court he was having a "lazy day" with his daughter and had taken a nap before finding her lying in her room with her eyes wide open. |
He told jurors he "dropped to his knees" but "didn't help the way I should have helped". | He told jurors he "dropped to his knees" but "didn't help the way I should have helped". |
"I tried to shake her. She didn't respond to what I did. I tried to breathe in her mouth. It just took the wind out of my sails. I still don't know why I didn't do more," he said. | "I tried to shake her. She didn't respond to what I did. I tried to breathe in her mouth. It just took the wind out of my sails. I still don't know why I didn't do more," he said. |
Mr Butler said he then went back downstairs "in shock" and had a lie down on the floor, where it took him "a while to get up". | |
The defendant then called his partner Jennie Gray, 36, and told her to come home - but did not tell her why. | The defendant then called his partner Jennie Gray, 36, and told her to come home - but did not tell her why. |
The court has previously heard the pair did not call an ambulance for two hours after Mr Butler had first contacted Ms Gray. | The court has previously heard the pair did not call an ambulance for two hours after Mr Butler had first contacted Ms Gray. |
'Here we go again' | 'Here we go again' |
When defence lawyer Icah Peart QC asked why he did not call an ambulance earlier, Mr Butler replied he was "panicking" and "not thinking straight". | When defence lawyer Icah Peart QC asked why he did not call an ambulance earlier, Mr Butler replied he was "panicking" and "not thinking straight". |
"The one mistake leads to the next thing, to the next thing... Not doing the right thing leads to more problems," he said | "The one mistake leads to the next thing, to the next thing... Not doing the right thing leads to more problems," he said |
He explained to the jury the pair discussed Mr Butler's previous wrongful conviction for shaking Ellie as a baby in 2007 and "how it would look". | He explained to the jury the pair discussed Mr Butler's previous wrongful conviction for shaking Ellie as a baby in 2007 and "how it would look". |
"I thought 'oh, here we go again', I'm going to get blamed", he said. | "I thought 'oh, here we go again', I'm going to get blamed", he said. |
Jennie Gray then called an ambulance and Ellie was rushed to hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. | Jennie Gray then called an ambulance and Ellie was rushed to hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. |
She denies child cruelty but has admitted perverting the course of justice. | She denies child cruelty but has admitted perverting the course of justice. |
Earlier, Mr Butler admitted he had been violent towards his partner. | Earlier, Mr Butler admitted he had been violent towards his partner. |
"Over the years we have had a lot of tension over a lot of things," he said. | "Over the years we have had a lot of tension over a lot of things," he said. |
Asked if he ever hit his daughter, Butler said he only ever "tapped her bum". | Asked if he ever hit his daughter, Butler said he only ever "tapped her bum". |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
Previous version
1
Next version