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Elsie Scully-Hicks: Baby death dad told girl to 'shut up' | Elsie Scully-Hicks: Baby death dad told girl to 'shut up' |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man accused of murdering his adopted baby daughter was heard swearing and shouting at the child by neighbours, a jury has heard. | A man accused of murdering his adopted baby daughter was heard swearing and shouting at the child by neighbours, a jury has heard. |
Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, of Delabole, Cornwall, denies the murder of 18-month-old Elsie, who died in May 2016 after suffering catastrophic injuries. | |
Neighbour James Bevan told Cardiff Crown Court he heard offensive swear words being shouted at the infant. | Neighbour James Bevan told Cardiff Crown Court he heard offensive swear words being shouted at the infant. |
He told the jury the swearing and shouting would happen when Elsie cried. | He told the jury the swearing and shouting would happen when Elsie cried. |
Mr Bevan, who lived in the semi-detached house next door to Matthew Scully-Hicks in Cardiff, said: "The first initial time I heard anything (unusual), I heard like a tantrum, like a 'argh', an adult's voice, a baby crying, and as the baby was crying I heard a door slam… I identified the crying as being that of a baby." | |
He explained on the next occasion he heard a baby crying, he also heard Matthew Scully-Hicks swearing at the child and saying "shut up". | He explained on the next occasion he heard a baby crying, he also heard Matthew Scully-Hicks swearing at the child and saying "shut up". |
He told the court: "Eventually she stopped crying. Then there was a pause and loud music started playing next door. | He told the court: "Eventually she stopped crying. Then there was a pause and loud music started playing next door. |
"It played the duration of a song. It stopped and the baby was still crying. The one who stayed at home shouted "shut up, shut up, shut up" over and over again. | "It played the duration of a song. It stopped and the baby was still crying. The one who stayed at home shouted "shut up, shut up, shut up" over and over again. |
"I would normally hear similar occasions happening once a week. Shouting, babies crying, tantrums." | "I would normally hear similar occasions happening once a week. Shouting, babies crying, tantrums." |
Mr Bevan's mother Susan told the court that she had heard Mr Scully-Hicks with a raised his voice and sounding "exasperated and frustrated". | Mr Bevan's mother Susan told the court that she had heard Mr Scully-Hicks with a raised his voice and sounding "exasperated and frustrated". |
She told the court: "I could occasionally hear him telling her to shut up. On some occasions he would sound quite exasperated. | |
"I do remember on one occasion when the baby was crying a lot. From a mother's point of view it sounded like a proper cry. | "I do remember on one occasion when the baby was crying a lot. From a mother's point of view it sounded like a proper cry. |
"Matthew got really exasperated with the baby." | "Matthew got really exasperated with the baby." |
She told the jury she heard him swear and repeatedly shout at Elsie to "shut up". | She told the jury she heard him swear and repeatedly shout at Elsie to "shut up". |
When asked if she felt the child was in any danger, she replied "no", adding later she had "no reason to be worried". | When asked if she felt the child was in any danger, she replied "no", adding later she had "no reason to be worried". |
She told the court she knew her neighbours "just politely" and used to call them "the one that stayed at home, and the one that worked away". | She told the court she knew her neighbours "just politely" and used to call them "the one that stayed at home, and the one that worked away". |
Defence barrister Jonathan Rees said Mr Scully-Hicks accepted he had raised his voice at Elsie but not that he swore. | Defence barrister Jonathan Rees said Mr Scully-Hicks accepted he had raised his voice at Elsie but not that he swore. |
The court heard on Tuesday Mr Scully-Hicks had referred to Elsie as "a psycho" and "Satan". | The court heard on Tuesday Mr Scully-Hicks had referred to Elsie as "a psycho" and "Satan". |
But his husband, Craig Scully-Hicks, said their house had been "filled with love and happiness, all the time" and he was unaware of any violence. | But his husband, Craig Scully-Hicks, said their house had been "filled with love and happiness, all the time" and he was unaware of any violence. |
Elsie died in the early hours of 29 May 2016, two weeks after being formally adopted. | Elsie died in the early hours of 29 May 2016, two weeks after being formally adopted. |
She had been taken in by the couple eight months previously but in that time had suffered several injuries including a fractured ankle and a fall down the stairs. | |
On Wednesday, the jury was played a 27-minute 999 call made by Matthew Scully-Hicks on 10 March 2016 when she was taken to Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales after the stair fall. | |
He was heard saying "Elsie, Elsie, come on, stay awake, stay awake, stay awake, babe, come on," while waiting for paramedics to arrive. | |
Matthew Scully-Hicks claimed Elsie had fallen down the stairs after a wooden stair gate accidentally opened when she pulled herself up on it. | |
The court has been told that Elsie vomited three times after the fall but she did not qualify for a CT scan. | |
She was discharged from hospital four hours later. | |
Jurors have been told that Matthew Scully-Hicks made another 999 at about 18:20 on 25 May, reporting that he had found Elsie unresponsive. | |
Medical tests before she died on 29 May showed she had suffered haemorrhages to her brain. | |
Post-mortem examinations revealed she had also suffered broken ribs, a fractured left femur and a fractured skull. | |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |