Man accused of attempting to murder newborn baby looked 'really worried'

Evidence: 'I took her off him immediately. It was horrible, really horrible.'© Deadline

A mother has told a court how a man accused of trying to murder her 11-week-old daughter looked "really worried" when the baby suddenly became unwell.

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told Edinburgh's High Court on Monday that she left Derren MacLennan in charge of her child at a house in Tain in February 2010.

The court heard that the 41-year-old man was with the infant in another room in the property when the little girl let out a "sore", "horrible" cry. The woman ran into the room to find the baby had her eyes shut tightly and was blowing bubbles out of her mouth.

The female spoke on the first day of the trial of MacLennan, of Manse Crescent, Tain, Easter Ross, who denies a single charge of attempted murder.

During her evidence, the woman told advocate depute David Young QC that MacLennan was helping to look after her child on February 23 when the child suddenly became unwell.

The woman said that the little girl let out a "horrible" cry which caused her to run into the room where MacLennan was with the girl.

She told the court: "He was pacing the floor looking really worried. She was lying with her eyes tightly shut. Her arms were down and her head straight back.

"She was blowing bubbles out of her mouth. I took her off him immediately. It was horrible, really horrible."

The court then heard the woman told MacLennan to phone for an ambulance and then the child was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

MacLennan has pleaded not guilty to an attempted murder charge which alleges on February 23, 2010, he seized the baby by the body, repeatedly shook her and struck her on the head against a solid surface, or compress her head, all to her severe injury, permanent impairment and to the danger of her life.

The trial is being conducted before temporary judge John Morris QC. Mr MacLennan is being represented by Mark Stewart QC.

At the start of proceedings, the jury of nine men and six women heard that proceedings were expected to take around one month. The trial will continue on Tuesday.

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