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| Mother 'held girl's head in bath' | Mother 'held girl's head in bath' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A court has heard how a mother described holding her disabled daughter's head under water in the bath for up to 10 minutes until she died. | |
| Extracts of police interviews with Joanne Hill, 32, of Connah's Quay, Flintshire were read out to her murder trial at Chester Crown Court. | Extracts of police interviews with Joanne Hill, 32, of Connah's Quay, Flintshire were read out to her murder trial at Chester Crown Court. |
| Mrs Hill admits killing her daughter, Naomi, but denies murder on grounds of diminished responsibility. | Mrs Hill admits killing her daughter, Naomi, but denies murder on grounds of diminished responsibility. |
| Jurors heard how she drank a glass of wine before drowning the four-year-old. | Jurors heard how she drank a glass of wine before drowning the four-year-old. |
| It is alleged Mrs Hill, an advertising saleswoman, killed Naomi because she could not cope with the girl's mild cerebral palsy. | It is alleged Mrs Hill, an advertising saleswoman, killed Naomi because she could not cope with the girl's mild cerebral palsy. |
| The jury has been told that on 26 November last year, Mrs Hill collected her daughter from a childminder and took her home, where she placed her in a bath and held head under water for up to 10 minutes. | The jury has been told that on 26 November last year, Mrs Hill collected her daughter from a childminder and took her home, where she placed her in a bath and held head under water for up to 10 minutes. |
| Glass of wine | Glass of wine |
| Mrs Hill then dressed Naomi and put her in a car before driving around for eight hours until she arrived at a local hospital carrying the dead girl in her arms. | Mrs Hill then dressed Naomi and put her in a car before driving around for eight hours until she arrived at a local hospital carrying the dead girl in her arms. |
| Interviewed by Det Con Andrew Roberts, of Cheshire Police, Mrs Hill said she knew her actions would cause Naomi's death. | Interviewed by Det Con Andrew Roberts, of Cheshire Police, Mrs Hill said she knew her actions would cause Naomi's death. |
| She said: "I picked up Naomi from the childminder and took her home. | She said: "I picked up Naomi from the childminder and took her home. |
| "I put the TV on and she was watching it. I ran the bath and had a glass of wine. | "I put the TV on and she was watching it. I ran the bath and had a glass of wine. |
| "Then I put her in the bath and held her under water. | "Then I put her in the bath and held her under water. |
| Naomi wore callipers after being diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy | Naomi wore callipers after being diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy |
| "I just put her in then pushed her head straight under," she said. | "I just put her in then pushed her head straight under," she said. |
| Asked by the detective how long she had held Naomi under water, she replied she was not sure, adding "about five or 10 minutes". | Asked by the detective how long she had held Naomi under water, she replied she was not sure, adding "about five or 10 minutes". |
| He asked her was she was thinking about at the time, and she said she did not know. | He asked her was she was thinking about at the time, and she said she did not know. |
| Det Con Roberts said: "Did you understand that if you held her head under water then she would die?" to which Mrs Hill replied: "Yes". | Det Con Roberts said: "Did you understand that if you held her head under water then she would die?" to which Mrs Hill replied: "Yes". |
| The jury heard she also told the police officer that she had been taking medication for depression and has suicidal thoughts. | The jury heard she also told the police officer that she had been taking medication for depression and has suicidal thoughts. |
| In the weeks before Naomi's deaths, Mrs Hill also said she suffered sleepless nights. | In the weeks before Naomi's deaths, Mrs Hill also said she suffered sleepless nights. |
| She said after she killed the girl she dressed her and placed her in the child seat in her car along with a bottle of wine. | She said after she killed the girl she dressed her and placed her in the child seat in her car along with a bottle of wine. |
| 'Dark thoughts' | 'Dark thoughts' |
| Mrs Hill said: "I needed to get out of the house because my husband said he was coming back at 7.30pm." | Mrs Hill said: "I needed to get out of the house because my husband said he was coming back at 7.30pm." |
| The detective asked her: "Why did you want to get out of the house before your husband returned?" | The detective asked her: "Why did you want to get out of the house before your husband returned?" |
| She replied: "Because of what I had done." | She replied: "Because of what I had done." |
| The trial has previously heard Mrs Hill's husband Simon Hill say his wife could not accept Naomi's disability. | The trial has previously heard Mrs Hill's husband Simon Hill say his wife could not accept Naomi's disability. |
| "She thought it was her fault when she was depressed. She had dark thoughts, did Joanne, and thought she was being punished in some way," said Mr Hill, a fleet manager for a car rental firm. | "She thought it was her fault when she was depressed. She had dark thoughts, did Joanne, and thought she was being punished in some way," said Mr Hill, a fleet manager for a car rental firm. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |