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Elsie Scully-Hicks: Murder accused denies injuring baby Elsie Scully-Hicks: Murder accused denies injuring baby
(about 1 hour later)
A man accused of murdering his adopted 18-month-old daughter has denied deliberately injuring her.A man accused of murdering his adopted 18-month-old daughter has denied deliberately injuring her.
Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, of Delabole, Cornwall, denies inflicting catastrophic injuries on Elsie Scully-Hicks at their Cardiff home.Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, of Delabole, Cornwall, denies inflicting catastrophic injuries on Elsie Scully-Hicks at their Cardiff home.
She died on 29 May 2016. Six months before her death she was treated for two breaks in her right leg.She died on 29 May 2016. Six months before her death she was treated for two breaks in her right leg.
When asked by defence barrister Robert O'Sullivan if he deliberately caused those injures he responded: "No."When asked by defence barrister Robert O'Sullivan if he deliberately caused those injures he responded: "No."
He said he witnessed her fall in the kitchen and immediately went to console her.He said he witnessed her fall in the kitchen and immediately went to console her.
Elsie sustained two breaks in the incident - one to her lower femur just above the knee and another in her lower shin.Elsie sustained two breaks in the incident - one to her lower femur just above the knee and another in her lower shin.
He also said he was not responsible for a bruise Elsie had in December 2015, adding it had been caused when she had banged her head when a magnetic door closure gave way in a play kitchen.He also said he was not responsible for a bruise Elsie had in December 2015, adding it had been caused when she had banged her head when a magnetic door closure gave way in a play kitchen.
He was then asked about an incident on 10 March 2016. He said Elsie fell down the stairs after he failed to lock the safety gate properly.He was then asked about an incident on 10 March 2016. He said Elsie fell down the stairs after he failed to lock the safety gate properly.
He said he was arranging washing in a bedroom at the time.He said he was arranging washing in a bedroom at the time.
"The next thing I could hear was the gate opening and I turned, then all I could see was her falling through from the top of the stairs," he said."The next thing I could hear was the gate opening and I turned, then all I could see was her falling through from the top of the stairs," he said.
"I put the washing down and ran out and got to the top of the stairs, and Elsie was tumbling down the stairs."I put the washing down and ran out and got to the top of the stairs, and Elsie was tumbling down the stairs.
"She was going head over heels down the stairs."She was going head over heels down the stairs.
"I followed her to the bottom and by the time I got there she was leant on the floor looking back at me just motionless. She didn't respond and didn't cry, she just lay there."I followed her to the bottom and by the time I got there she was leant on the floor looking back at me just motionless. She didn't respond and didn't cry, she just lay there.
"I picked up the phone which was by the front door and phoned for the ambulance.""I picked up the phone which was by the front door and phoned for the ambulance."
He described Elsie vomiting and him accompanying her to hospital in an ambulance.He described Elsie vomiting and him accompanying her to hospital in an ambulance.
"Everything had overcome me by that point," he said."Everything had overcome me by that point," he said.
"I was really upset and I think the reality of what just happened hit me."I was really upset and I think the reality of what just happened hit me.
"I told the doctor that I clearly hadn't locked the gate properly and Elsie had pulled herself up and fallen out and down the stairs.""I told the doctor that I clearly hadn't locked the gate properly and Elsie had pulled herself up and fallen out and down the stairs."
Less than three months later, Elsie was rushed to hospital in an unresponsive state after a 999 call was made by the defendant saying he had found her that way on the living room floor.Less than three months later, Elsie was rushed to hospital in an unresponsive state after a 999 call was made by the defendant saying he had found her that way on the living room floor.
He told the jury that he had changed Elsie's nappy on the rug and had left the room for about five minutes while he took it out to the kitchen.
He said that when he came back into the room, he thought she was asleep.
"She didn't acknowledge me coming into the room which for her was strange," he said.
"I got closer and called her, there was no response. I got down and gave her a gentle tap and there was no response at all so I picked up the phone and called for an ambulance."
Mr Scully-Hicks said he carried out CPR until a police officer arrived and took over.
A CT scan showed she had bleeding on the brain, and post-mortem examinations revealed she had also suffered broken ribs, a fractured left femur and a fractured skull.A CT scan showed she had bleeding on the brain, and post-mortem examinations revealed she had also suffered broken ribs, a fractured left femur and a fractured skull.
There was also haemorrhaging within both of Elsie's retinas - associated with inflicted trauma or injury.There was also haemorrhaging within both of Elsie's retinas - associated with inflicted trauma or injury.
The court has previously heard her injuries were "very typical" of babies who have been shaken.The court has previously heard her injuries were "very typical" of babies who have been shaken.
'First step'
Mr Scully-Hicks also told the court: "I always saw a family with two children."Mr Scully-Hicks also told the court: "I always saw a family with two children."
He said he and his husband Craig talked about having a family "pretty early on", adding: "We were both of the mind we wanted children. It's something we could agree on very early on."He said he and his husband Craig talked about having a family "pretty early on", adding: "We were both of the mind we wanted children. It's something we could agree on very early on."
He added: "We had requested [a baby] as young as possible. We wanted to see and witness as much as we could.He added: "We had requested [a baby] as young as possible. We wanted to see and witness as much as we could.
"We wanted to be there when they took their first step and wanted to be there when they said their first word - we wanted to see all of that.""We wanted to be there when they took their first step and wanted to be there when they said their first word - we wanted to see all of that."
The trial continues.The trial continues.