Murder trial told baby had blood on lips

A baby allegedly murdered by her father was grey, cold, bruised and had blood on her lips by the time an ambulance was called, a court has heard.

Thomas Holford, 24, is accused of murdering Everleigh Stroud, who was rushed to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent, on 21 April 2021.

She remained there until she died, aged 14 months, on 27 May 2022.

Holford, of Ramsgate, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in November last year but denies murder and causing actual bodily harm.

He was living with his then 16-year-old girlfriend, Casey Stroud, and her parents in Wallwood Road, Ramsgate, at the time of the incident.

Ms Stroud was staying with a friend on 20 April to celebrate her birthday, leaving Holford to care for their daughter overnight.

Jurors at Canterbury Crown Court on Wednesday were played a 999 call made by Kelly Stroud, Everleigh's grandmother, at 09:20 BST on 21 April.

Kelly told the operator that Everleigh was "just about" breathing and conscious, and was not making any purposeful movement.

"She's looking quite grey, she's feeling quite cold, her eyes are really puffed up and she's got a bruise on her cheek," said Kelly.

When asked it was difficult to wake Everleigh up, Kelly replied: "Yes, she's not crying, she's finding it impossible to cry."

Kelly then asked her daughter to check Everleigh's breathing, to which she replied: "I can't tell, I can't tell, her eyes are so swollen she can't open her eyes and she's really grey and cold.

"She looks in agony she's not right at all. She's not waking up at all, her eyes are like slits at the moment, looks like they're rolling back."

Casey then told the operator there was blood on her daughter's lips.

The court previously heard that Everleigh also had bone fractures, bruising to her face, atrophy to her eyes leading to her going blind and injuries to her anus.

A paramedic arrived at the house at 09:26 and said they found Everleigh on her side, twitching and making "very slight" movements.

Police arrived shortly after and an officer was shown "a split" on Everleigh's lip by a paramedic who was carrying her to the ambulance, the jury heard.

An officer said Holford appeared to be in a "good mood" as he played games on his phone while his daughter was being rushed to hospital.

The trial continues.

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