This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-22600727
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Benjamin Roach guilty of baby daughter's manslaughter | Benjamin Roach guilty of baby daughter's manslaughter |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man has been found guilty of killing his four-week-old daughter by shaking her violently the first time he was alone with her. | A man has been found guilty of killing his four-week-old daughter by shaking her violently the first time he was alone with her. |
Benjamin Roach, 24, from Plymouth, had denied the manslaughter of Roxie-Jo Hopkins-Roach, who died in September 2010, but was convicted unanimously. | Benjamin Roach, 24, from Plymouth, had denied the manslaughter of Roxie-Jo Hopkins-Roach, who died in September 2010, but was convicted unanimously. |
One of her injuries was similar to what might be seen as a result of a road crash, Plymouth Crown Court was told. | One of her injuries was similar to what might be seen as a result of a road crash, Plymouth Crown Court was told. |
Roach, of Tailyour Road, is to be sentenced on Tuesday. | Roach, of Tailyour Road, is to be sentenced on Tuesday. |
Baby 'became floppy' | Baby 'became floppy' |
Roach may have shaken the baby before throwing her down hard on to a sofa or bed, and the baby would have been blind if she had survived, the court heard. | Roach may have shaken the baby before throwing her down hard on to a sofa or bed, and the baby would have been blind if she had survived, the court heard. |
Police were called to the house in Plymstock that Roach shared with Roxie-Jo's mother, Kelly Hopkins, on Thursday 23 September 2010. | Police were called to the house in Plymstock that Roach shared with Roxie-Jo's mother, Kelly Hopkins, on Thursday 23 September 2010. |
Roxie-Jo was brought to hospital and admitted at about 19:00 BST. She was then taken to a high-dependency unit where she died the day after, police said. | Roxie-Jo was brought to hospital and admitted at about 19:00 BST. She was then taken to a high-dependency unit where she died the day after, police said. |
Ms Hopkins, then 21, had left Roach and the baby in the house alone to get medicine for her baby, the court heard. | Ms Hopkins, then 21, had left Roach and the baby in the house alone to get medicine for her baby, the court heard. |
Roach told police that Roxie was "screaming" and "crying heavily" after he was left alone with her. | Roach told police that Roxie was "screaming" and "crying heavily" after he was left alone with her. |
He picked her up to calm her down but said she suddenly became "floppy". | He picked her up to calm her down but said she suddenly became "floppy". |
Roach later changed his story and said he had dropped her four feet (1.2m) on to a carpeted floor. | |
He also told police he shook her in "panic" when she lost consciousness to try to get a response from her, the court heard. | He also told police he shook her in "panic" when she lost consciousness to try to get a response from her, the court heard. |
'Cherished memories' | |
After the verdict, Ms Hopkins said her daughter "can now rest in peace and justice has been served". | |
She said: "Losing my daughter, my parents' granddaughter and niece to my brother and sister will always remain the hardest thing that has happened to us. | |
"Although now all I have is memories, these are memories I will cherish throughout the rest of my life. | |
"The justice I have fought for, for finding the truth about what happened to Roxie and knowing she is now in a better place, has been all I've wanted and now I can finally say I have achieved it." | |
Det Insp Costa Nassaris, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "I am glad that justice has finally been done for baby Roxie and her mother, Kelly. | |
"She has shown great courage and determination in her desire to get answers for herself and get justice for her daughter." |