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Fire accused 'tried to save' baby Fire accused 'tried to save' baby
(40 minutes later)
A father accused of murdering his baby daughter by setting fire to the family home has told a court he battled to save her.A father accused of murdering his baby daughter by setting fire to the family home has told a court he battled to save her.
William Middleton, 33, wept as he described being beaten back from her bedroom by thick black smoke in the house at Brae in Shetland.William Middleton, 33, wept as he described being beaten back from her bedroom by thick black smoke in the house at Brae in Shetland.
He said the smoke left him feeling like he had "done three hours in the gym".He said the smoke left him feeling like he had "done three hours in the gym".
Mr Middleton denies murdering his nine-month-old daughter Annalise and trying to murder two other young children.Mr Middleton denies murdering his nine-month-old daughter Annalise and trying to murder two other young children.
He was giving evidence for the first time in his defence at the High Court in Aberdeen.He was giving evidence for the first time in his defence at the High Court in Aberdeen.
He said on the night of the fire, on 20 September last year, he had gone to bed after a row with his wife who had already left the house. He said on the night of the fire, on 20 September last year, he had gone to bed after a row with his wife who had already left the house. I started to choke, my eyes were really stinging. I could not get breath William Middleton
When an alarm sounded, he opened his bedroom door to find "a considerable amount of dark smoke" in the hall. I started to choke, my eyes were really stinging. I could not get breath William Middleton When an alarm sounded, he opened his bedroom door to find "a considerable amount of dark smoke" in the hall.
Two children in the house were screaming at the top of the stairs, he told jurors.Two children in the house were screaming at the top of the stairs, he told jurors.
The girl ran downstairs but the boy was "scared stiff" and he had to go to get him, he said.The girl ran downstairs but the boy was "scared stiff" and he had to go to get him, he said.
When they were outside the house he said he told the children he was "going to get Annalise".When they were outside the house he said he told the children he was "going to get Annalise".
Pausing as he wept, he told defence QC Jack Davidson: "I tried to get up the stairs but the smoke seemed to be suddenly so much more.Pausing as he wept, he told defence QC Jack Davidson: "I tried to get up the stairs but the smoke seemed to be suddenly so much more.
"I got most of the way up but I started to choke, my eyes were really stinging. I could not get breath.""I got most of the way up but I started to choke, my eyes were really stinging. I could not get breath."
'Very upset'
He said he must have made his way downstairs again but could only remember stumbling.He said he must have made his way downstairs again but could only remember stumbling.
Asked what effect the smoke had on him, he said: "I could hardly breathe, I could not see.Asked what effect the smoke had on him, he said: "I could hardly breathe, I could not see.
"I felt like I had done about three hours in the gym. I was really tired and weak.""I felt like I had done about three hours in the gym. I was really tired and weak."
The trial continues. He added that he felt "very upset" about what had happened to Annalise.
Mr Middleton had described events earlier in the evening, when three teenage girls had been drinking with him and his wife, as "very jovial".Mr Middleton said his wife had left the house following a row
He said a row broke out between him and Mrs Middleton after she overheard him make a "silly comment" to one of the girls.
He said he was "not really" concerned about his wife after she left because "she has gone out for a walk to calm down before", and shortly afterwards he went to bed.
He confirmed to Mr Davidson that during the evening he and his wife had been smoking and that ashtrays had been moved around the house.
Mr Middleton denied to Mr Davidson that he started the fires.
Advocate depute Jock Thomson asked Mr Middleton how the young children were able to survive for "30 seconds" if the smoke was as thick as he suggested.
"Presumably I got them out quick enough," he said.
Mr Middleton also denied Mr Thomson's suggestion he set two fires knowing children were in the house.
Mr Thomson put it to him: "You have stumbled downstairs, gasping and choking for breath, you need fresh air and you just happen to stumble in the bedroom and lie on your bed. How can that be?"
"I have no recollection of getting there," Middleton said.
Middleton is also accused, on the same date, of the attempted murder of two children.
He is further accused of sexually assaulting a woman at another address on various dates.
He denies all the charges and has lodged a special defence of consent to the sexual assault allegation.
The trial, before judge Lord Kinclaven, continues.