'My baby girl Abbie died in my arms' weeping mother tells murder trial

A YOUNG mother sobbed yesterday as she told a murder trial how her five-month-old daughter died in her arms.

Nichola Haddock, 29, was giving evidence at the trial of her former partner Craig Jamieson, who denies murdering their daughter Abbie at the family home in Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, on 8 February, 2008.

Jamieson, 30, has lodged a special defence of incrimination against Ms Haddock.

Ms Haddock, who was studying for a BA in child care and social work at Glasgow Caledonian University, told the High Court in Glasgow that she was called on her mobile by Jamieson, who said Abbie was unwell.

He was looking after Abbie while she was attending lectures and Ms Haddock claimed that when she left that morning her baby daughter was fine.

Miss Haddock said when she arrived home: "Abbie was lying in her chair with a nappy on. She was pale, very pale. She was staring into space. I called her and she wasn't responding.

"She was floppy. No life in her.

"When I lifted her I just screamed and Craig phoned an ambulance."

Ms Haddock told the court that Abbie wasn't breathing and there were bruises on her stomach.

She added: "I put her on the floor and did CPR on her."

She said she was doing it incorrectly at first and had to be talked through the procedure by a 999 operator.

The court heard that Abbie was taken by ambulance to the intensive care unit at Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow.

Ms Haddock said medical staff told her Abbie wouldn't live.

She said: "I was talking to her and singing to her and praying over her.

"They came in and were turning machines and things off. They brought a chair in and sat me down and placed Abbie in my arms.

"I was told later she had died in my arms."

Prosecutor Lesley Shand, QC, said: "Did you ask Craig Jamieson what had happened to Abbie?"

She replied: "Yes, downstairs in the family room. I asked him if he had dropped her or she had fallen and he said 'no'."

Ms Haddock was then asked if she had ever punched, kicked or hit her daughter and replied: "No."

Ms Shand then asked: "Did you ever throw her against a hard surface?"

Ms Haddock said: "No. I loved my daughter. I loved her with every piece of me. No, never."

Ms Haddock told the court that the day her daughter died they had had a "pyjama day" and had watched Jungle Book together.

She admitted she had been diagnosed with post-natal depression and prescribed anti-depressants. But referring to the tablets, she said: "I took them on and off. I didn't feel I had post-natal depression."

She told the court that after Jamieson was charged with murder she continued to see him and have sex with him.

When asked why, she replied: "I refused to believe he could have harmed Abbie. I thought it was something medical or something that happened at birth. I thought it was because I didn't do CPR properly."

Under cross-examination by defence QC Ronnie Watson, Ms Haddock admitted that two days before Abbie died she had sent Jamieson a text saying: "Abbs hasn't stopped screaming and it's doing my head in."

Ms Haddock also agreed with Mr Watson that she was an overprotective mother.

Mr Watson is expected to complete his cross-examination today.

Jamieson, of Summerhill Place, Drumchapel, is accused of murdering Abbie by inflicting blunt force trauma to her head and body by means unknown to the prosecutor.

He is also charged with assaulting Abbie to her severe injury on 6 January, 2008 at their flat in Dumbarton Road, Glasgow.

He denies both charges.

The trial before temporary judge Alastair Stewart continues.