False tears claim over baby death

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A man accused of killing his nine-month-old baby was accused of crying "crocodile tears" when questioned by police, a court has heard.

William Middleton, 33, was also said to have been "vague" in his answers during the interview.

But he insisted he did not murder Annalise Middleton and "hated himself" for not being able to save her.

Mr Middleton denies murdering Annalise by setting fire to the family home and trying to murder two other children.

He is accused of setting fire to materials in the house in Brae, Shetland, on 20 September last year, with the smoke overcoming his daughter. I hate myself for not getting there William Middleton to police officers

The High Court in Aberdeen heard a tape of an interview with Mr Middleton after the fire, conducted by Det Con Martyn Brill and a colleague in Lerwick.

The officers asked him if he could explain how two fires could have started in quick succession in the house.

"No, this does not make sense to me," he said.

He told the officers he did not hear the emergency services outside or his wife Kareen screaming for her baby.

When asked why he did not save Annalise when he was just "feet away" from her bedroom, he said he "could not manage".

"I hate myself for not getting there," he said.

'Crocodile tears'

He was told by one officer: "Every time we ask you, it's either a vague 'I don't know' or crocodile tears."

At another point Mr Middleton denied he was pretending to cry and asked them: "Why are you doing this?"

"Why did you set the fires?" a detective asked him.

"I did not set the fires," Mr Middleton replied.

"Why did you murder your daughter?" he was asked.

"I did not murder my daughter," he said.

Jack Davidson QC, defending, asked Mr Brill if Mr Middleton was indignant to certain suggestions put to him by the tone of his voice.

"Yes," Mr Brill said.

On the same date, Mr Middleton is also accused of the attempted murder of two other children.

He is further accused of sexually assaulting a woman at another address on various dates.

Mr Middleton denies all the charges and has lodged a special defence of consent to the sexual assault allegation.

The trial, before judge Lord Kinclaven, continues.