Mother Denies Murdering Three-Week-Old Daughter
Nicole Blain, 30, has maintained her innocence in a Glasgow High Court trial where she faces allegations of murdering her three-week-old daughter, Thea Wilson. Blain insists she would never harm her child and attributes the infant's death to a "tragic accident."
Blain recounted that she had taken a nap at her Greenock flat in July 2023 and awoke to find Thea lying on the floor beside her crib. The trial has previously included testimony from a witness indicating that Blain blamed another child for the baby's death. However, during her own testimony, Blain stated she did not know how Thea sustained her injuries.
Details of the Incident and Injuries
Prosecutors allege that Blain murdered Thea by shaking her and causing blunt force injuries. These charges are denied by Blain. She explained that Thea had been sleeping in her crib when she herself went to rest. She was awakened by a neighbor at the door and subsequently found Thea on the floor without the nappy she had been wearing or the blanket that had covered her.
The jury heard from Thea's paternal grandmother, who testified that Blain had claimed another child present in the flat "done it." Nevertheless, Blain stated during her testimony that she did "did not know what happened" to cause the injuries.
Thea died in hospital with two broken ribs and three skull fractures consistent with impact against a hard surface, along with other injuries that could indicate shaking.
Blain's Testimony and Court Proceedings
Blain emphatically denied harming her baby, stating:
"Never in a million years would I harm my baby."
She also refuted allegations of shifting blame onto another child:
"I would not throw [the other child] under the bus."
Reflecting on the trauma, Blain said:
"I can remember the trauma of finding my daughter. I will never get it out of my head. My baby died in my arms."
Advocate depute Alan Cameron challenged her account, describing the suggestion that another child caused the injuries as "just nonsense." He alleged that Blain had harmed Thea and then realized she was in serious trouble.
Blain rejected these claims, stating:
"In my eyes, (the other child) did not kill Thea. What happened to Thea was a tragic accident. The only thing to blame was me being asleep and that is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life."
The trial, presided over by Lord Scott, is ongoing.
