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| Girl's bath killing 'not planned' | Girl's bath killing 'not planned' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A woman who drowned her disabled daughter in a bath had not planned the killing, a court has been told. | A woman who drowned her disabled daughter in a bath had not planned the killing, a court has been told. |
| Joanne Hill, 32, admits killing Naomi, four, at their home in Connah's Quay, Flintshire, but denies murder due to diminished responsibility. | Joanne Hill, 32, admits killing Naomi, four, at their home in Connah's Quay, Flintshire, but denies murder due to diminished responsibility. |
| The jury at Chester Crown Court was told the advertising saleswoman would not give evidence in her own defence. | The jury at Chester Crown Court was told the advertising saleswoman would not give evidence in her own defence. |
| Instead an expert told jurors Ms Hill suffered from a mental disorder which made her disconnect her emotions. | Instead an expert told jurors Ms Hill suffered from a mental disorder which made her disconnect her emotions. |
| The prosecution says Mrs Hill killed her daughter because she could not cope with her mild cerebral palsy which caused her walking and slight hearing difficulties. | The prosecution says Mrs Hill killed her daughter because she could not cope with her mild cerebral palsy which caused her walking and slight hearing difficulties. |
| The court has heard how she drowned the youngster in the bath by holding her head under the water for 10 minutes on 26 November last year after collecting her from a childminder. | The court has heard how she drowned the youngster in the bath by holding her head under the water for 10 minutes on 26 November last year after collecting her from a childminder. |
| She had odd thoughts and those odd thoughts were never fully explained. Dr Aideen O'Halloran | She had odd thoughts and those odd thoughts were never fully explained. Dr Aideen O'Halloran |
| She then drove around with her dead daughter and a bottle of wine in the car for eight hours before carrying her into a local hospital, shouting for help. | She then drove around with her dead daughter and a bottle of wine in the car for eight hours before carrying her into a local hospital, shouting for help. |
| Dr Aideen O'Halloran, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, said statements by witnesses about Ms Hill's behaviour in the weeks, days and hours leading up to Naomi's death, indicated she was suffering from a relapse of her disorder which first became apparent when she was a teenager. | Dr Aideen O'Halloran, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, said statements by witnesses about Ms Hill's behaviour in the weeks, days and hours leading up to Naomi's death, indicated she was suffering from a relapse of her disorder which first became apparent when she was a teenager. |
| Dr O'Halloran said: "Descriptions of her being very matter of fact about Naomi's death show she was cutting off her emotions." | Dr O'Halloran said: "Descriptions of her being very matter of fact about Naomi's death show she was cutting off her emotions." |
| The expert said Ms Hill was "not covering her tracks or anything like that". | The expert said Ms Hill was "not covering her tracks or anything like that". |
| "(Ms Hill) described an absence of thinking and an absence of feeling, again very matter of fact," she told the jury. "It was disconnected from logical, rational thinking and normal emotion." | "(Ms Hill) described an absence of thinking and an absence of feeling, again very matter of fact," she told the jury. "It was disconnected from logical, rational thinking and normal emotion." |
| Naomi suffered from mild cerebral palsy | Naomi suffered from mild cerebral palsy |
| The forensic psychiatrist interviewed Ms Hill following Naomi's death and studied her medical records for a report for her defence. | The forensic psychiatrist interviewed Ms Hill following Naomi's death and studied her medical records for a report for her defence. |
| She told the court that Ms Hill's mental health issues first became apparent in the early 1990s when at 17 she saw a child psychiatrist for anxiety and repetitive thoughts. | She told the court that Ms Hill's mental health issues first became apparent in the early 1990s when at 17 she saw a child psychiatrist for anxiety and repetitive thoughts. |
| In 2000, Ms Hill twice attempted suicide and throughout the year she was prescribed a medication for anxiety, depression and sleeplessness. | In 2000, Ms Hill twice attempted suicide and throughout the year she was prescribed a medication for anxiety, depression and sleeplessness. |
| Reading from notes, Dr O'Halloran said: "She had odd thoughts and those odd thoughts were never fully explained. | Reading from notes, Dr O'Halloran said: "She had odd thoughts and those odd thoughts were never fully explained. |
| "At times people thought those thoughts may have been psychotic, which is when a patient loses contact with reality." | "At times people thought those thoughts may have been psychotic, which is when a patient loses contact with reality." |
| Bipolar disorder | Bipolar disorder |
| In January 2003, shortly before Naomi was born, Ms Hill was diagnosed with chronic anxiety and the following April, she had a "hypermanic" episode. | In January 2003, shortly before Naomi was born, Ms Hill was diagnosed with chronic anxiety and the following April, she had a "hypermanic" episode. |
| Dr O'Halloran suggested this indicated a bipolar disorder. | Dr O'Halloran suggested this indicated a bipolar disorder. |
| Naomi was born 10 weeks premature in a "difficult" birth in the June, she told the court. | Naomi was born 10 weeks premature in a "difficult" birth in the June, she told the court. |
| Almost immediately, Ms Hill suffered a severe form of post natal depression but appeared to make a quick recovery after treatment by her local community health team. | Almost immediately, Ms Hill suffered a severe form of post natal depression but appeared to make a quick recovery after treatment by her local community health team. |
| She was recommended to be discharged from outpatient care the following September. | She was recommended to be discharged from outpatient care the following September. |
| Dr O'Halloran said: "(Ms Hill) doesn't fit neatly and tidily into any typical variation. | |
| "She appears to become ill quite quickly and she appears to respond relatively quickly to the medication. | "She appears to become ill quite quickly and she appears to respond relatively quickly to the medication. |
| "She then relapses. The nature of this illness is that it is relapsing. She is known to be someone who is vulnerable to stress. Combined with not taking medication, the risks increase," the expert told the jurors. | "She then relapses. The nature of this illness is that it is relapsing. She is known to be someone who is vulnerable to stress. Combined with not taking medication, the risks increase," the expert told the jurors. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |