A man accused of fracturing the skull of a toddler he was looking after became increasingly angry while giving evidence in his defence.
Craig Neill was repeatedly warned by a judge to stop talking over barristers and giving rambling answers during an increasingly fractious day of evidence.
At one point, the 26-year-old told Judge Jonathan Carroll – “I don’t give a f*** mate. I’m not answering anymore questions” - as he warned him about his conduct.
Neill and Amy Cave were both charged after the child was left with a significant brain injury requiring surgery after the toddler collapsed in Darlington.
Under cross examination from Cave’s barrister, Nicholas Lumley KC, the defendant became increasingly frustrated with his line of questioning about the injuries caused to the toddler.
Neil said: “You know as well as I know that I didn’t do it. I felt bad about the injuries but I didn’t cause them.”
Jurors had heard how the toddler’s skull was fractured as the result of blunt force injury which could not have been caused accidentally through a fall.
Mr Lumley put it to Neill that he fled the scene as soon as the paramedics and police were called to an address in the Branksome area on the afternoon of May 26 at about 1.45pm following reports of an unresponsive child.
The defendant said he left the area because he had £7,000 worth of cocaine in his backpack and not because he had inflicted the child’s injuries.
When asked why he didn’t stay to help, he said: “I’m not a paramedic, there’s nothing that I could do so I just got on with my day.”
Mr Lumley showed the jury a series of videos of Neill dancing around with the toddler while listening to music.
He said: “Those videos were taken shortly before you lost it with the child.”
Neill replied: “No, I never lost it.”
Mr Lumley said: “You smashed their skull, didn’t you?”
Neill replied: “No, I didn’t.”
He said: “You alone, are responsible for nearly killing that little child, aren’t you?”
Neill replied: “No I’m not, I’m definitely not.”
In one exchange with Peter Doswell KC, prosecuting, the defendant became frustrated with his cross-examination.
He said: “Listen, I have nothing to prove to you.
“You are not letting me speak, you are talking over me because you think you are better than me.”
When asked about a photograph of bruising to the child’s face, Neill shouted: “I’m f****** sick of this now, you keep asking me the same questions, trying to a reaction from me.”
They also heard how friends and family warned Cave that her new partner had a violent past.
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The 20-year-old had been in her new relationship for several weeks at the time of the alleged incident and was put under pressure to have an abortion after she fell pregnant.
Cave, of Waltham Close, Darlington, pleaded not guilty to the charge of allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm.
While Neill, 26, of Yarm Road, Darlington, denies a charge of causing a child to suffer serious physical harm.
The trial continues.
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