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| 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. |
| 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. |
| Baby 'became floppy' | |
| 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. | 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' | 'Cherished memories' |
| After the verdict, Ms Hopkins said her daughter "can now rest in peace and justice has been served". | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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." | "She has shown great courage and determination in her desire to get answers for herself and get justice for her daughter." |