09 May 2024 , 17:45
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A nursery worker has denied she "persecuted" a baby girl she allegedly killed by ill-treatment.
Kate Roughley, 37, found nine-month-old Genevieve Meehan unresponsive and blue while she was in her care at Tiny Toes Nursery in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport. Staff and then paramedics attempted to revive Genevieve, known to her family as Gigi, but her condition was irreversible and she was pronounced dead later the same afternoon in hospital.
The prosecution say the youngster died from a combination of asphyxia and pathophysiological stress after being placed face down, tightly swaddled and strapped to a bean bag. It is alleged the defendant then ignored distressed cries of Genevieve, and showed "sporadic" and "fleeting" interest in her wellbeing, for one hour and 37 minutes. The deceased baby was then found by Roughley.
Baby Gigi was found unresponsive at Tiny Toes Children's Day Nursery in Cheadle Hulme (MEN Media)Genevieve's parents, John Meehan and Katie Wheeler, sat in court behind Roughley as she gave evidence on the second anniversary of their daughter's death on Thursday at Manchester Crown Court. The events of the day in the baby room were captured on the nursery's CCTV and have been shown to the jury, along with footage from May 5 and 6.
The Crown says the lack of affection shown to Genevieve by the defendant was "not merely visible but palpable" and that she was the subject of "illogical and disturbing hostility". Peter Wright KC, cross-examining, said to the defendant: "I am going to suggest that the contents of that CCTV demonstrated that you persecuted that child, Genevieve?"
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Roughley said: "That's not true." Mr Wright said: "And whatever she did or didn't do was never going to be satisfactory to you?" Roughley repeated: "That's not true."
Mr Wright said: "And I'm going to suggest that you allowed your dislike of a nine-month-old child to manifest itself in ill-treatment that you meted out to her?" Roughley said: "I would never not like a nine-month-old baby. So to say I disliked her is far from the truth."
Roughley, of Heaton Norris, Stockport, denies manslaughter by ill-treatment and an alternative count of child cruelty.