Dad denies murdering baby by shaking her with 'abusive force', jury hears

Police interview transcripts were read out to a jury of the moment a dad denied murdering his 20-day-old baby. A jury heard Darin Harvey told officers it was the 'God's honest truth' that he did not kill his daughter.

Harvey, of Heywood, is accused of shaking his then 17-day-old baby, Felicity-May Harvey, with 'abusive force' causing her 'catastrophic' brain and spine injuries at his home on January 8, 2021. She died three days later at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. He denies the charge of murder.

It is alleged he caused the injuries when Felicity's mother, Heather Connolly, left their Stirling Place home for around 15 minutes and Harvey, 26, was asked to feed her. Felicity-May was born with a cleft palate which meant she required the 'greatest degree of care' and had particular difficulties feeding.

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A jury at Bolton Crown Court today heard transcripts of interviews with police in the days following his arrest soon after Felicity-May was admitted to hospital on the afternoon of January 8. In the first one on January 9 he is asked to recall the moments leading up to being left alone to feed Felicity-May and how she came to be found with such severe injuries.

The court heard that Harvey called Ms Connolly just after 2.31pm saying "something's wrong with baby" and she came rushing into the house where Felicity-May was found 'floppy' and 'unresponsive'. Detective Constable Kate Grundy read the transcripts of the police interviews to the court along with the prosecution.

When DC Grundy asked Harvey what had happened to Felicity-May he initially responded "I honestly don't know" and "I have no explanation, I would never never hurt baby, it's not