Blackpool man accused of shaking six-week-old son to death

A father is accused of shaking his six-week-old baby to death two days after social workers deemed he was a ‘loving and devoted’ parent.

David Christie, 35, had been under supervision while the mother of his son Marshall, was in hospital receiving treatment for mental health issues.

Social workers scaled down their approach after deciding he had made ‘good progress’, following a meeting.

But two days later his son was found unresponsive with severe brain injuries at their home in Blackpool, Lancashire, a jury was told. 

The youngster was rushed to hospital but tragically died five days later. 

Tests showed Marshall suffered injuries consistent with ‘serial shaking events,’ fractured ribs, plus further bruising on his head, back and genital area, Preston Crown Court was told. 

Christie had fathered Marshall with his girlfriend Sarah Lowe in January 2017 but she suffered from schizophrenia and stayed at a specialist unit in Manchester, with her baby for an initial period.

In the ensuing weeks Miss Lowe struggled to cope with her illness and Christie was allowed to take Marshall him home to their flat the following month.

‘Prior to Marshall’s birth the authorities had identified the couple as needing extra support and supervision,’ said Nicholas Johnson QC prosecuting..’ A group called ‘Family In Need’ and social services monitored Mr Christie and he seemed to cope well.

‘On March 1 he was visited by a health visitor for about an hour and during that visit the baby was stripped off completely and given a head to toe examination. She noted nothing of concern but Mr Christie asked the worker how you could tell if a baby had bruises.

‘When asked why he said he was worried what might happen when Sarah came home as he would not be in a position to be there at all times. ‘

Christie, from Wigan, had been under supervision while the mother of his child received treatment for mental health issues, just days before his son (right) died

‘On March 8 there was a meeting involving David Christie and the Family In Need team. It was agreed he would be called upon four times during the week and twice at the weekend – but by then it was felt he made such good progress this could be reduced to three times a week.

‘That evening a health worker called round to David Christie’s flat at a time which coincided with bath time and at that stage Marshall had no visible injuries. Mr Christie gave everyone the impression of being a loving and devoted father.’

But the court heard at 4am on March 10, Christie rang his sister then dialled 999 saying: ‘My little boy has been asleep. I gave him a drink of water but he is not breathing at all. I don’t know what to do. I have had to ask my sister to come round.’

Mr Johnson added: ‘It is clear from the 999 call that two women were with him at the time the call was made – his auntie and his cousin. Mr Christie was in fact bought up by his auntie and refers to her as mum and his cousin as his sister.

‘The ambulance service responded on mass and within five and a half minutes of the telephone call, the first ambulance had arrived. Within a few minutes, a total of six paramedics were on the scene. Mr Christie said to one of them: ‘Come and save my baby.’

‘They found his six week old baby lying on the floor at the bottom of the bed. Mr Christie’s auntie was carrying out CPR. The paramedic noticed that the baby’s skin was grey and very cold to the touch – he had no pulse.

‘He was taken straight to hospital and at the Blackpool Victoria hospital his condition was investigated and David Christie was asked what had happened. He said the baby had not been well for a few days and had been coughing.

‘He had given Marshall some water for the cough and had put him down to bed.. Five minutes later he noticed fluid coming from his mouth and that he was blue and floppy. He said he then called his mum and sister.

‘At the hospital, Mr Christie said to the registrar Marshall had not been well for a couple of days. He said he had put Marshall down on his bed about 3.40am and returned about 5 minutes later when he saw fluid coming from his mouth. At that stage Mr Christie said Marshall was floppy and blue.

‘No immediate diagnosis was made at the hospital for his catatonic state but police started to make enquiries. Importantly, Mr Christie said at 3.45am he heard Marshall cough and it didn’t sound good. He said he had shook Marshall’s belly whilst he was laying down and then panicked and rang his sister as she only lives down the street.

During a meeting with Mr Christie (pictured) social workers believed he was a ‘loving a devoting’ parent, Preston Crown Court heard

‘Medical staff came to the view that his state was because of an inflicted injury and Mr Christie was arrested. Marshall’s condition deteriorated and he was transferred to The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital but he died five days later after never regaining consciousness.

‘Subsequent enquiries revealed he had suffered a serious head injury whilst in the sole care of his father. He was examined by several doctors who found numerous injuries externally and internally. The combination of these injuries means Marshall was killed by his father.’

Christie later told police Marshall had struggled to breath since he was born but there was no record of him reporting his concerns to healthcare professionals, the court heard. He claimed Christie when Marshall was struggling to breathe he would ‘hit him on the back.’

But the QC said: ‘He did not shake Marshall because he was trying to revive him but it was the shaking that caused the collapse.

‘Marshall was scanned from head to toe and the most serious injury of note was to the brain. The injuries involved bleeding to the brain as well as brain damage which had been caused by a lack of oxygen. The injuries he suffered meant that he could never have survived.

‘This was not a case of a momentary loss of control, Marshall had suffered other injuries including to his genital area. He also had fractured ribs resulting from at least two separate occasions. There was also further bleeding on the brain which pre-dated the 10th of March.

‘A neuropathology expert said that Marshall’s injuries were consistent with ‘serial shaking events. Further bruising was found to Marshall’s head and back as well as bruising to his genital area. There was no evidence of any natural disease that could reasonably count for his demise.’

Christie denies murder. the trial continues.