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Carer's drink claim in baby case Carer's drink claim in baby case
(about 12 hours later)
A man who has admitted drinking a litre of vodka in the evening he looked after his partner's newborn son has dismissed suggestions it amounted to negligence.A man who has admitted drinking a litre of vodka in the evening he looked after his partner's newborn son has dismissed suggestions it amounted to negligence.
Paul Henry Thomas, 30, may have been up to five times over the legal limit for driving as he cared for Warren Thomas, Swansea Crown Court heard.Paul Henry Thomas, 30, may have been up to five times over the legal limit for driving as he cared for Warren Thomas, Swansea Crown Court heard.
The baby was found dead on the floor the following morning next to the sofa where Mr Thomas had fallen asleep.The baby was found dead on the floor the following morning next to the sofa where Mr Thomas had fallen asleep.
He denies a charge of causing cruelty to a child by wilful neglect.He denies a charge of causing cruelty to a child by wilful neglect.
The court has heard Ms Owen was forced to slap Mr Thomas to revive him after discovering the dead baby on the floor on 4 January this year.The court has heard Ms Owen was forced to slap Mr Thomas to revive him after discovering the dead baby on the floor on 4 January this year.
They, along with Ms Owen's other child, had moved into Mr Thomas' flat in the Fforestfach area of Swansea after Warren was born in December 2007. They, along with Ms Owen's other child, had moved into Mr Thomas's flat in the Fforestfach area of Swansea after Warren was born in December 2007.
After taking the stand, Mr Thomas repeatedly denied that he had been drinking while looking after the baby.After taking the stand, Mr Thomas repeatedly denied that he had been drinking while looking after the baby.
The truth of this case is that you drunk through the night because you could not stop yourself and you cannot, or will not, admit that either to yourself or anyone else Christopher Clee, prosecutingThe truth of this case is that you drunk through the night because you could not stop yourself and you cannot, or will not, admit that either to yourself or anyone else Christopher Clee, prosecuting
He also insisted he was so used to consuming large amounts of alcohol that even if he had been drinking over the crucial period it would have had no effect.He also insisted he was so used to consuming large amounts of alcohol that even if he had been drinking over the crucial period it would have had no effect.
Under cross-examination, Mr Thomas denied that he had secretly drunk the bottle of vodka after Ms Owen had gone to bed early with the two children.Under cross-examination, Mr Thomas denied that he had secretly drunk the bottle of vodka after Ms Owen had gone to bed early with the two children.
Mr Thomas had volunteered to feed Warren during the night to allow Ms Owen to catch up on sleep, the court heard.Mr Thomas had volunteered to feed Warren during the night to allow Ms Owen to catch up on sleep, the court heard.
She had awoken at 0300 GMT to find Mr Thomas bottle-feeding the baby and he had told her to return to bed. Four hours later the baby was dead.She had awoken at 0300 GMT to find Mr Thomas bottle-feeding the baby and he had told her to return to bed. Four hours later the baby was dead.
Mr Thomas told the jury he had drunk almost a full bottle of vodka between 1600 GMT and 2000 GMT on the evening in question.Mr Thomas told the jury he had drunk almost a full bottle of vodka between 1600 GMT and 2000 GMT on the evening in question.
Prosecutor Christopher Clee said previously that a "back calculation" would put Mr Thomas at about five times over the alcohol limit for driving if that was true.Prosecutor Christopher Clee said previously that a "back calculation" would put Mr Thomas at about five times over the alcohol limit for driving if that was true.
Mr Thomas explained he had previously been drinking two bottles of vodka a day and had started to cut down after Warren's birth.Mr Thomas explained he had previously been drinking two bottles of vodka a day and had started to cut down after Warren's birth.
Mr Thomas said he had cut his drinking down since the birth of Warren ThomasMr Thomas said he had cut his drinking down since the birth of Warren Thomas
He denied drinking any alcohol after Ms Owen had gone to bed but claimed that even if he had it would not have made him drunk.He denied drinking any alcohol after Ms Owen had gone to bed but claimed that even if he had it would not have made him drunk.
"Listen very carefully to what I am asking you," Mr Clee said to Mr Thomas."Listen very carefully to what I am asking you," Mr Clee said to Mr Thomas.
"To take care of a baby of one-month-old and then to drink a bottle of vodka would be negligence of that child, wouldn't it?""To take care of a baby of one-month-old and then to drink a bottle of vodka would be negligence of that child, wouldn't it?"
"If I was drunk," Mr Thomas replied."If I was drunk," Mr Thomas replied.
"Are you saying in a roundabout way that you could drink a bottle of vodka and look after Warren," Mr Clee said."Are you saying in a roundabout way that you could drink a bottle of vodka and look after Warren," Mr Clee said.
Mr Thomas answered that that was something he believed at the time but he now no longer did.Mr Thomas answered that that was something he believed at the time but he now no longer did.
He said that had he consumed that amount of alcohol during the evening he would not have felt drunk.He said that had he consumed that amount of alcohol during the evening he would not have felt drunk.
He insisted that having consumed the vodka earlier in the evening he felt neither drunk nor sleepy as a result of alcohol.He insisted that having consumed the vodka earlier in the evening he felt neither drunk nor sleepy as a result of alcohol.
He said Ms Owen had had a problem waking him up only because he had been "very knackered" from lack of sleep.He said Ms Owen had had a problem waking him up only because he had been "very knackered" from lack of sleep.
'Drunken stupor''Drunken stupor'
Mr Clee said: "In reality you were in a drunken stupor that is why she had to slap you.Mr Clee said: "In reality you were in a drunken stupor that is why she had to slap you.
"The truth of this case is that you drunk through the night because you could not stop yourself and you cannot, or will not, admit that either to yourself or anyone else.""The truth of this case is that you drunk through the night because you could not stop yourself and you cannot, or will not, admit that either to yourself or anyone else."
Previously the jury had heard an examination of the baby's body failed to establish a cause of death and he may have fallen victim to sudden infant death syndrome.Previously the jury had heard an examination of the baby's body failed to establish a cause of death and he may have fallen victim to sudden infant death syndrome.
As a result Mr Thomas does not face any charge which suggests that he was the cause of Warren's death, prosecutor Christopher Clee has explained.As a result Mr Thomas does not face any charge which suggests that he was the cause of Warren's death, prosecutor Christopher Clee has explained.
The defence case concluded with the brief cross-examination and the trial was adjourned until Thursday.The defence case concluded with the brief cross-examination and the trial was adjourned until Thursday.
The jury is expected to be sent out to consider its verdict in the morning.The jury is expected to be sent out to consider its verdict in the morning.
The case continues.The case continues.