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-cambridgeshire-27784811
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Amina Agboola case: Dean Harris 'thinking nothing' while kicking child | Amina Agboola case: Dean Harris 'thinking nothing' while kicking child |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man accused of murdering a two-year-old girl told a jury he was "thinking nothing" when he kicked her six feet across a room. | A man accused of murdering a two-year-old girl told a jury he was "thinking nothing" when he kicked her six feet across a room. |
Amina Agboola, of Scott Drive, Peterborough, died of a ruptured liver after the attack by her mother's boyfriend on 21 November, Cambridge Crown Court heard. | |
Dean Harris, 19, has admitted manslaughter but denies murder. | Dean Harris, 19, has admitted manslaughter but denies murder. |
Amina's mother Sarah Racqueman, 29, denies causing or allowing her death. | Amina's mother Sarah Racqueman, 29, denies causing or allowing her death. |
Mr Harris told the court he had become "a bit frustrated" after cleaning and changing Amina when she had repeatedly soiled herself. | |
'Quite winded' | 'Quite winded' |
His counsel, Alastair Malcolm, asked Harris: "When you kicked Amina, what was going through your mind?" | His counsel, Alastair Malcolm, asked Harris: "When you kicked Amina, what was going through your mind?" |
Mr Harris replied: "Nothing." | |
Asked if he had intended to kill or cause her serious harm, he twice replied: "No." | Asked if he had intended to kill or cause her serious harm, he twice replied: "No." |
Mr Harris said when he kicked Amina, she "went across the room at quite a distance... and landed on her front". | |
"I picked her up, I was just checking her belly button to see if she was alright. She was quite winded," he said. | "I picked her up, I was just checking her belly button to see if she was alright. She was quite winded," he said. |
Mr Harris said he tried to pick up Amina and put her on her feet, but she was unable to stand. | |
"She muttered a few words; she was weak, was very quiet." | "She muttered a few words; she was weak, was very quiet." |
Paramedics who responded to a 999 call made by Harris described the child as looking "like a rag doll" when they arrived. | Paramedics who responded to a 999 call made by Harris described the child as looking "like a rag doll" when they arrived. |
'Easy to lie' | |
Under cross-examination, Mr Harris admitted to the court he had initially lied to Amina's mother and medical staff about what had happened to the child, claiming she had fallen off the toilet. | |
He told prosecutor Zoe Johnson he "couldn't own up" to Ms Racqueman and had "panicked". | |
"Do you find it easy to lie?" Ms Johnson asked. | |
"In some ways, yes," Mr Harris replied. | |
"All I've done since then is try to block it out of my mind. It [the kick] took the breath out of her chest, She just muttered a couple of words, that was it," he added. | |
An inquest concluded Amina died from a ruptured liver and "blunt force trauma" to her abdomen. | An inquest concluded Amina died from a ruptured liver and "blunt force trauma" to her abdomen. |
Her liver had been split in two, the court was told, and there was evidence of older injuries on her body including a recently broken arm, bruises to her face and skull, and bite marks on her cheek and forearm. | Her liver had been split in two, the court was told, and there was evidence of older injuries on her body including a recently broken arm, bruises to her face and skull, and bite marks on her cheek and forearm. |
Mr Harris told the court he had bitten Amina on the cheek "as a joke, playing around" the day before she died, in response to her biting his finger. | |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
Previous version
1
Next version