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Father had spoken of suicide plan | Father had spoken of suicide plan |
(6 days later) | |
A radiographer who suffocated his daughter told his line manager he would use chloroform to kill himself and his children, a court has been told. | A radiographer who suffocated his daughter told his line manager he would use chloroform to kill himself and his children, a court has been told. |
Gavin Hall, 33, killed Amelia, aged three, as her mother and sister slept upstairs in their Northants home. | Gavin Hall, 33, killed Amelia, aged three, as her mother and sister slept upstairs in their Northants home. |
Mr Hall's line manager thought he was "hypothesising" when he talked about committing suicide, the court heard. | Mr Hall's line manager thought he was "hypothesising" when he talked about committing suicide, the court heard. |
Mr Hall, of Irchester, admits killing his daughter but denies murder on grounds of diminished responsibility. | Mr Hall, of Irchester, admits killing his daughter but denies murder on grounds of diminished responsibility. |
He was hypothesising. I didn't think he was going to do it Alison Tew | He was hypothesising. I didn't think he was going to do it Alison Tew |
Northampton Crown Court heard how Mr Hall was devastated at discovering his wife had been having an affair. | Northampton Crown Court heard how Mr Hall was devastated at discovering his wife had been having an affair. |
On 23 November last year he told his boss Alison Tew that he was suicidal. | On 23 November last year he told his boss Alison Tew that he was suicidal. |
Giving evidence, radiologist Mrs Tew told the jury: "He did say that he was contemplating suicide. He was hypothesising. I didn't think he was going to do it. | Giving evidence, radiologist Mrs Tew told the jury: "He did say that he was contemplating suicide. He was hypothesising. I didn't think he was going to do it. |
"He said he would use chloroform to kill himself and his children." | "He said he would use chloroform to kill himself and his children." |
Open cuts | Open cuts |
Six days later, he killed his oldest daughter, Amelia, three, by suffocating her with medical chloroform. | Six days later, he killed his oldest daughter, Amelia, three, by suffocating her with medical chloroform. |
Mr Hall admits a lesser charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. | Mr Hall admits a lesser charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. |
The court heard that on 29 November last year Amelia was fed anti-depressant pills to make her drowsy. | The court heard that on 29 November last year Amelia was fed anti-depressant pills to make her drowsy. |
Mr Hall sat and cuddled her for more than an hour before smothering her with a rag soaked with the anaesthetic chemical, medical chloroform. | Mr Hall sat and cuddled her for more than an hour before smothering her with a rag soaked with the anaesthetic chemical, medical chloroform. |
She died just two days before her fourth birthday. | She died just two days before her fourth birthday. |
Her mother, Joanne, found Amelia under a duvet on the living room floor the following morning. | Her mother, Joanne, found Amelia under a duvet on the living room floor the following morning. |
Hall had tried to kill himself with chloroform and had open cuts in his neck, thighs and arms. | Hall had tried to kill himself with chloroform and had open cuts in his neck, thighs and arms. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |