Accused admitted shaking tragic six-week-old baby, murder trial told

Mark Simpson, 29, allegedly assaulted Alexis Matheson on various occasions between 8 November and 9 December 2007.

He went on trial at the High Court in Aberdeen yesterday accused of murdering the baby, leaving her so badly injured that she died in hospital.

Giving evidence, Violet Hocking, 64, said Simpson admitted shaking her grandchild Alexis after she was admitted to hospital on 9 December.

She told the court Simpson's mother had given her a lift to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and they arrived to find her daughter Illona in a "terrible state".

Advocate depute Ian McSporran asked: "Did you see Mark when you got to the hospital?"

She replied: "Yes, he was sitting with Illona.

"He was quite anxious."

The pensioner said Simpson claimed to have carried attempted to resuscitate the baby.

She added: "He kept saying, 'I hope I've done enough. I hope I did enough to bring her round'."

Mr McSporran asked: "Can you remember him saying that he had tried to resuscitate the baby?"

Mrs Hocking replied: "Yes, he was just saying this more or less to his mother. He mentioned that he had given the baby a shake to try to get a response from her."

The mother-of-four told the court that she saw her granddaughter attached to wires at the hospital and knew she was in a "very serious" condition.

And she claimed Simpson mentioned that he would be blamed for the incident.

She told the court: "Mark had turned and said, "Don't be surprised, I'll get the blame for this,' and says to Illona, 'And you'."

She said he also spoke about a "slab with a mattress on it".

Mrs Hocking said Alexis was transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and the family travelled to be with her in Edinburgh.

But her life-support machine was switched off the following day.

Mrs Hocking told the court: "We were taken into this room where the baby was and we were told there was nothing they could do for her."

She added: "They asked if she wanted to hold her baby.She was in such a terrible state, she said no at first because she didn't want to believe what was happening.

"I asked if I could hold Alexis, thinking I could get Illona to accept what was happening.

"She was just rocking back and fore with the wee one speaking away to her."

The court heard the family was torn apart by Illona and Simpson's relationship.

She moved in with him a few weeks after Simpson and her older sister Amanda, 35, who was expecting his baby, split up.

Illona had separated from Alexis' father Robert McCall before the baby was born on 26 October.

Yesterday her mother said she had taken her daughter and the young child to the doctor with "bloodshot eyes" a few days before she died.

And she told the court the baby also did not appear to be alert on the same day when the pair were visiting her Aberdeen home.

Mrs Hocking said Simpson had been left at his home with the young baby on one occasion when Illona visited her at home alone.

But she claimed Simpson caller Illona back home because the baby refused to settle. Simpson, of Aberdeen, is accused of assaulting and murdering the child.

He is further accused of breaching bail conditions ordering him not to contact Illona Matheson after the baby's death.

He denies the charges.

The trial continues.