The defence barrister of a man accused of murdering a toddler told jurors that her death was not intended, wanted, or desired.
Michael Daymond is alleged to have caused fatal injuries to Maya Chappell when he violently shook her while she was in his care.
The two-year-old suffered unsurvivable head and brain injuries while the 27-year-old was looking after her while her mother was at work.
Teesside Crown Court heard how Maya’s mother Dana Carr should have done more to protect her vulnerable daughter.
Nicholas Lumley KC, representing Daymond, urged the jury to remember that his client had no history of violence or any want to fatally injure the County Durham toddler.
In his closing speech, he said: "A verdict of not guilty to murder would not be contrary to your promise to try the case on the evidence.
"On the other hand, you may thing he may have had some explaining to do for manslaughter, although he denies any responsibility for anything.
"He has no wish to be found guilty of anything but we can see how that might be a step too far. The verdict in his case maybe guilty to manslaughter."
Closing the prosecution case, Benjamin Nolan KC, told jurors that the only person responsible for Maya’s death in September last year was Michael Daymond and he declined to give evidence in his defence.
The barrister told the jury that the case against Daymond is 'compellable and overwhelming' after the medical experts all said Maya's death was caused by deliberately inflicted injury.
He said they all agree that the injuries were inflicted at a time when only Daymond was looking after the two-year-old and that is why he says the prosecution case is 'overwhelming'.
Mr Nolan said Daymond refused to take the 'few short steps' across the courtroom to give evidence.
And said the defendant is the only person who knows for certain what happened in the four hours before she suffered the fatal injuries but he had neglected to do that.
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He concluded this was an 'utterly defenceless child and her injuries were inflicted with the utmost brutality - this was murder'.
Daymond, formerly of Shotton Colliery, County Durham, has pleaded not guilty to murder and a second charge of cruelty to a child.
Twenty-four-year-old Carr, also formerly of Shotton Colliery, denies child cruelty and allowing the death of a child.
The trial continues.
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