26 February 2024 , 23:07
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A dad accused of killing his infant son denies he was more interested in playing his PlayStation 4 than looking after his infant son.
Michael Davis was questioned by the prosecutor on Monday as he and girlfriend Kayleigh Driver stood trial for allegedly causing grievous bodily harm and allowing the death of one-month-old Ollie. The youngster suffered 37 broken bones including a snapped neck in the 10 days leading up to his death, a jury at Leicester crown court heard.
The jury heard how Driver's pregnancy was unplanned, but that he denied being "unprepared for fatherhood". Jonas Hankin KC, prosecuting, asked: "Do you think you had realistic expectations about the amount of care and attention a young baby needs?" Davis said that no, he did not.
The jury heard that Davis worked five days a week at Specsavers in Leicester's Highcross shopping centre, usually taking care of the baby overnight while his girlfriend, who is on trial for murder alongside him, slept. But he has admitted spending a lot of time on his Playstation 4, on games including Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto and Assassin's Creed, as well as playing multiplayer mobile phone games and watching wrestling matches on television in the early hours of the morning.
Kayleigh Driver (right) and Michael Davis are accused of causing or allowing four-week-old Ollie Davis's death (Leicester Mercury/BPM Media)Davis said: "I know lots of people who have kids and play Playstation as well." Mr Hankin said: "You were taking every opportunity to play on your PS4." The defendant said: "I would go on when I could, but that doesn't mean I prioritised it."
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Mr Hankin pressed, asking: "You took the first opportunity when your baby's asleep and your girlfriend's asleep to get on your Playstation. That's your priority, isn't it?" Davis said that that allegation was not true. Mr Hankin asked Davis if he found it "frustrating" when Ollie woke up in the night. Davis said he did not.
Mr Hankin said the medical evidence suggested Ollie would have been distressed when he was fed and changed during the nights in the last week of his life. Mr Hankin asked Davis: "We know that Ollie had, by this time, sustained many bone fractures, so when you were handling him for feeding and changing he would have been crying, wouldn't he?" Davis said he only noticed Ollie crying for food or when his nappy needed changing.
Experts have stated that the man injuries to Ollie - including 23 rib fractures and brain damage - were inflicted in the 10 days leading up to his death on Saturday, October 21, 2017, and that Ollie would have been in noticeable pain as a result of the injuries. But no one living at the address in Beaumont Leys, Leicester, where Ollie was injured, said they noticed any distress ahead of his death.
Davis, 29, and 31-year-old Driver, of Carlisle Street, West End, Leicester, both deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent, causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm, causing or allowing the death of a child and murder. The trial continues.