Man denies murdering five-week-old baby daughter

A MAN has gone on trial accused of murdering his five-week-old daughter and assaulting two young children.

The case began in the High Court of Edinburgh yesterday. Picture: Scott Louden

Ian Ruddock, 34, has pleaded not guilty to a charge which alleges he took his child Olivia’s life after assaulting her on various occasions in 2011.

Ruddock, of Shawlands, Glasgow, also denies a charge which claims he attempted to murder an infant in 2013 at a house in the city. He also denies assaulting another youngster in 2009.

Ruddock entered the not guilty pleas during the first day of proceedings against him at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday. He appeared in the dock at the high court before a jury and judge Lord Bannatyne.

During proceedings, the court heard evidence from Ruddock’s 35-year-old sister Susan Drennan of Cambuslang.

She told prosecution lawyer Ashley Edwards about how her brother and his wife felt following the death of Olivia.

She added: “They were grieving for a very long time.”

The clerk of court read the contents of a legal document to a jury which detailed the charges facing Ruddock.

Prosecutors allege that in 2009, Ruddock assaulted a child at an address in the south side of Glasgow. Crown lawyers also allege that on various locations between 27 January 2011 and 6 March 2011, at a house in Clarkston, Glasgow, he assaulted his daughter Olivia. Prosecutors allege that he seized hold of Olivia, compressed her chest and rib cage with his hands before shaking her repeatedly.

It is also claimed Ruddock “inflicted blunt force trauma” to her head and that she subsequently died at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Yorkhill, Glasgow, on 6 March 2011. The third charge is that he attempted to murder another child two years ago at an address in Glasgow.

The trial continues.