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| Elsie Scully-Hicks: Murder accused was 'struggling to cope' | Elsie Scully-Hicks: Murder accused was 'struggling to cope' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man accused of murdering his adopted daughter referred to her as "a psycho" and "Satan", a court heard. | A man accused of murdering his adopted daughter referred to her as "a psycho" and "Satan", a court heard. |
| Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, is accused of abusing 18-month-old Elsie over several months and causing "catastrophic" injuries before she died in May 2016. | Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, is accused of abusing 18-month-old Elsie over several months and causing "catastrophic" injuries before she died in May 2016. |
| But his husband, Craig Scully-Hicks, told Cardiff Crown Court his house had been "filled with love and happiness, all the time". | But his husband, Craig Scully-Hicks, told Cardiff Crown Court his house had been "filled with love and happiness, all the time". |
| Matthew Scully-Hicks, of Delabole, Cornwall, denies murder. | Matthew Scully-Hicks, of Delabole, Cornwall, denies murder. |
| The court heard police found messages from the defendant to his husband saying he was "struggling to cope" with caring for their adopted children. | The court heard police found messages from the defendant to his husband saying he was "struggling to cope" with caring for their adopted children. |
| In one, he described Elsie as "Satan in a babygro", saying she was "having a proper diva strop" and describing her as a "psycho". | In one, he described Elsie as "Satan in a babygro", saying she was "having a proper diva strop" and describing her as a "psycho". |
| However, defence barrister Robert O'Sullivan said Matthew Scully-Hicks was known as "safety boy" because of his safety conscious and careful nature. | However, defence barrister Robert O'Sullivan said Matthew Scully-Hicks was known as "safety boy" because of his safety conscious and careful nature. |
| His husband also described him as a "quiet and mild mannered person" who he had never seen shout or appear angry with their children. | |
| The court heard they had moved to Cardiff in 2011 and faced a year of checks before adopting Elsie. | The court heard they had moved to Cardiff in 2011 and faced a year of checks before adopting Elsie. |
| She was born in November 2014 and went to live with the couple in 2015, with them being visited by social workers every fortnight. | She was born in November 2014 and went to live with the couple in 2015, with them being visited by social workers every fortnight. |
| It was agreed the defendant would give up his job to care for the children, with his husband continuing to work - which kept him away from home three days a week. | It was agreed the defendant would give up his job to care for the children, with his husband continuing to work - which kept him away from home three days a week. |
| Giving evidence by video link, Craig Scully-Hicks said: "She was great. The house became louder. She was good apart from her sleeping. | Giving evidence by video link, Craig Scully-Hicks said: "She was great. The house became louder. She was good apart from her sleeping. |
| "She liked to nap but she liked to get up again a couple of hours later." | "She liked to nap but she liked to get up again a couple of hours later." |
| The jury was told neighbours had allegedly heard Matthew Scully-Hicks swearing at Elsie, telling her to "shut up", but his husband said he had never heard such language. | The jury was told neighbours had allegedly heard Matthew Scully-Hicks swearing at Elsie, telling her to "shut up", but his husband said he had never heard such language. |
| In September 2015, Elsie suffered a fracture to her right leg and bruises on her forehead in December 2015 and January 2016. | In September 2015, Elsie suffered a fracture to her right leg and bruises on her forehead in December 2015 and January 2016. |
| "She was always bumping and falling over at that stage," Craig Scully-Hicks told the jury. | "She was always bumping and falling over at that stage," Craig Scully-Hicks told the jury. |
| On 10 March 2016, he received a call to say Elsie had fallen down the stairs, but despite being put under observation for four hours was allowed home from hospital. | On 10 March 2016, he received a call to say Elsie had fallen down the stairs, but despite being put under observation for four hours was allowed home from hospital. |
| "If my daughter's head had been scanned that day I wonder whether we would be here today," he told the jury. | "If my daughter's head had been scanned that day I wonder whether we would be here today," he told the jury. |
| "She didn't want to be put down, she just wanted to be on our laps constantly. She didn't want to play with her toys, she just wanted to be cuddled. | "She didn't want to be put down, she just wanted to be on our laps constantly. She didn't want to play with her toys, she just wanted to be cuddled. |
| "It was like she lost confidence. I'm not sure she ever regained her confidence." | "It was like she lost confidence. I'm not sure she ever regained her confidence." |
| On 25 May, Craig Scully-Hicks said he received a phone call to say Elsie was "really poorly" and rushed from Leicester, where he was working, to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. | On 25 May, Craig Scully-Hicks said he received a phone call to say Elsie was "really poorly" and rushed from Leicester, where he was working, to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. |
| He became emotional when recalling seeing his daughter in hospital, saying: "She was on the operating table. I ran straight into the operating room. | He became emotional when recalling seeing his daughter in hospital, saying: "She was on the operating table. I ran straight into the operating room. |
| "There were people everywhere and she was just lying on the table... the doctor said there was a problem with her heart and people are working on her." | "There were people everywhere and she was just lying on the table... the doctor said there was a problem with her heart and people are working on her." |
| Prosecutor Paul Lewis QC told the court "doctors determined she could not be saved" and her ventilator was switched off. | Prosecutor Paul Lewis QC told the court "doctors determined she could not be saved" and her ventilator was switched off. |
| She died in the early hours of 29 May, two weeks after being formally adopted. | She died in the early hours of 29 May, two weeks after being formally adopted. |
| On Monday, the court heard she had suffered haemorrhages to her brain while post-mortem examinations discovered she had also suffered broken ribs, a fractured left femur and a fractured skull. | On Monday, the court heard she had suffered haemorrhages to her brain while post-mortem examinations discovered she had also suffered broken ribs, a fractured left femur and a fractured skull. |
| Matthew Scully-Hicks is accused of causing the brain damage by violently shaking Elsie. | Matthew Scully-Hicks is accused of causing the brain damage by violently shaking Elsie. |
| Craig Scully-Hicks said: "Let me be clear. My house was filled with love and happiness, all of the time. | Craig Scully-Hicks said: "Let me be clear. My house was filled with love and happiness, all of the time. |
| "If I had suspected anything I wouldn't have tolerated it." | "If I had suspected anything I wouldn't have tolerated it." |
| Health visitor Jodie Golten, who saw Elsie on three occasions, told the court: "She was a happy, smiley child. Loving life I suppose. | Health visitor Jodie Golten, who saw Elsie on three occasions, told the court: "She was a happy, smiley child. Loving life I suppose. |
| "She was lovely, smiles all round." | "She was lovely, smiles all round." |
| Asked if she had any concerns about her care, she said: "None at all." | Asked if she had any concerns about her care, she said: "None at all." |
| After the first visit, she wrote in her notes: "She appears to have a lovely bond growing with Matt. Both giving lovely eye contact and playing together." | After the first visit, she wrote in her notes: "She appears to have a lovely bond growing with Matt. Both giving lovely eye contact and playing together." |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |