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Jury retires in drink baby case Jury retires in drink baby case
(20 minutes later)
A jury is considering its verdict in the case of a man who its is claimed drank a litre of vodka before looking after his partner's newborn son. A jury is considering its verdict in the case of a man who it is claimed drank a litre of vodka before looking after his partner's newborn son.
Warren Thomas was found dead on the floor next to the sofa where Paul Henry Thomas, 30, had fallen asleep.Warren Thomas was found dead on the floor next to the sofa where Paul Henry Thomas, 30, had fallen asleep.
He denies a charge of causing cruelty to a child by wilful neglect.He denies a charge of causing cruelty to a child by wilful neglect.
The jury at Swansea Crown Court has heard he may have been up to five times over the legal limit for driving as he cared for the one-month-old baby.The jury at Swansea Crown Court has heard he may have been up to five times over the legal limit for driving as he cared for the one-month-old baby.
The court has heard how Warren's mother, Laura Owen, was forced to slap Mr Thomas to revive him after discovering the dead baby on the floor on 4 January this year.The court has heard how Warren's mother, Laura Owen, was forced to slap Mr Thomas to revive him after discovering the dead baby on the floor on 4 January this year.
Tests by a pathologist could not determine the baby's cause of death and he may have fallen victim to sudden infant death syndrome.Tests by a pathologist could not determine the baby's cause of death and he may have fallen victim to sudden infant death syndrome.
Ms Owen and her other child moved into Mr Thomas's flat in the Fforestfach area of Swansea after Warren was born in December 2007.Ms Owen and her other child moved into Mr Thomas's flat in the Fforestfach area of Swansea after Warren was born in December 2007.
Giving evidence he repeatedly denied that he had been drinking while looking after the baby.Giving evidence he repeatedly denied that he had been drinking while looking after the baby.
He also insisted he was so used to consuming large amounts of alcohol that even if he had been drinking over the crucial period it would have had no effect.He also insisted he was so used to consuming large amounts of alcohol that even if he had been drinking over the crucial period it would have had no effect.
The court heard Mr Thomas had volunteered to feed Warren during the night to allow Ms Owen to catch up on sleep.The court heard Mr Thomas had volunteered to feed Warren during the night to allow Ms Owen to catch up on sleep.
She had awoken at 0300 GMT to find Mr Thomas bottle-feeding the baby and he had told her to return to bed. Four hours later the baby was dead.She had awoken at 0300 GMT to find Mr Thomas bottle-feeding the baby and he had told her to return to bed. Four hours later the baby was dead.
Mr Thomas told the jury he had drunk almost a full bottle of vodka between 1600 GMT and 2000 GMT on the evening in question.Mr Thomas told the jury he had drunk almost a full bottle of vodka between 1600 GMT and 2000 GMT on the evening in question.
He said he had previously been drinking two bottles of vodka a day and had started to cut down after Warren's birth.He said he had previously been drinking two bottles of vodka a day and had started to cut down after Warren's birth.
He denied drinking any alcohol after Ms Owen had gone to bed but claimed that even if he had it would not have made him drunk.He denied drinking any alcohol after Ms Owen had gone to bed but claimed that even if he had it would not have made him drunk.
He insisted that having consumed the vodka earlier in the evening he felt neither drunk nor sleepy as a result of alcohol.He insisted that having consumed the vodka earlier in the evening he felt neither drunk nor sleepy as a result of alcohol.
The prosecution claims that while looking after Warren Mr Thomas had continue to drink.The prosecution claims that while looking after Warren Mr Thomas had continue to drink.
Prosecutor Christopher Clee told him: "The truth of this case is that you drunk through the night because you could not stop yourself and you cannot, or will not, admit that either to yourself or anyone else."Prosecutor Christopher Clee told him: "The truth of this case is that you drunk through the night because you could not stop yourself and you cannot, or will not, admit that either to yourself or anyone else."