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| Girl killed after 'Romeo' moment | Girl killed after 'Romeo' moment |
| (2 days later) | |
| A father has described how he spent a moment "like Romeo and Juliet" with his three-year-old daughter before suffocating her, a court has heard. | |
| Hospital radiographer Gavin Hall, 33, killed Amelia as her mother and sister slept upstairs in their Northants home. | Hospital radiographer Gavin Hall, 33, killed Amelia as her mother and sister slept upstairs in their Northants home. |
| Mr Hall, of Irchester, denies murder but admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. | Mr Hall, of Irchester, denies murder but admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. |
| "It seemed very Romeo and Juliet, we were distraught, we were distressed," Mr Hall told Northampton Crown Court. | "It seemed very Romeo and Juliet, we were distraught, we were distressed," Mr Hall told Northampton Crown Court. |
| The court heard how Mr Hall sat and cuddled his daughter Amelia in the early hours of 29 November last year. | The court heard how Mr Hall sat and cuddled his daughter Amelia in the early hours of 29 November last year. |
| He drugged her with antidepressant pills and smothered her with chloroform in revenge for his wife's affair with a married judge she met over the internet, the court heard. | He drugged her with antidepressant pills and smothered her with chloroform in revenge for his wife's affair with a married judge she met over the internet, the court heard. |
| 'Talked about heaven' | 'Talked about heaven' |
| Giving evidence on Tuesday, Mr Hall said he remembered nothing of the incident in which he also tried to kill himself with drugs and by using a scalpel to cut himself. | Giving evidence on Tuesday, Mr Hall said he remembered nothing of the incident in which he also tried to kill himself with drugs and by using a scalpel to cut himself. |
| He said he had talked with his daughter about the break-up in their marriage, and she had said she wanted to stay with him. | He said he had talked with his daughter about the break-up in their marriage, and she had said she wanted to stay with him. |
| "At the time it must have been clear. We talked about heaven and we talked about no more crying, no more sadness," he said. | "At the time it must have been clear. We talked about heaven and we talked about no more crying, no more sadness," he said. |
| In letters written on the night, he told his wife, Joanne, that he was taking their two children to a place where they would be loved, but he said in court that he had made no plans beforehand to kill anyone except himself. | In letters written on the night, he told his wife, Joanne, that he was taking their two children to a place where they would be loved, but he said in court that he had made no plans beforehand to kill anyone except himself. |
| He said: "There was no conscious decision made to take Millie (Amelia), just like there was no conscious decision made not to take Lucy." | He said: "There was no conscious decision made to take Millie (Amelia), just like there was no conscious decision made not to take Lucy." |
| In the letters, he wrote: "I only took them because they would be loved, cherished and adored. | In the letters, he wrote: "I only took them because they would be loved, cherished and adored. |
| "Be happy in the knowledge the kids are safe and happy." | "Be happy in the knowledge the kids are safe and happy." |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |