I’m still in a relationship with teen on trial for the the death of my baby boy
Young mum tells court she does not want to give evidence against accused
A WOMAN has admitted she still wants a relationship with the teenager accused of killing their baby son.
Katie Strawhorn told a court yesterday that she wasn’t happy about giving evidence against Jack Butterworth.
He is on trial accused of attacking Katie while she was heavily pregnant with his son Lucas.
Katie suffered placental abruption and Lucas was born by emergency Caesarean section last November.
He was so severely injured that he died five days later.
Butterworth, 18, denies the culpable homicide of his son.
At the High Court in Glasgow, Katie told prosecutor Ashley Edwards QC that she looked to Butterworth for support after Lucas died and she wanted to continue the relationship.
The advocate depute asked her: “Do you still want it to happen?” Katie said: “It’s hard... yes.” The prosecutor asked “Do you want to be here to give evidence against him?” Katie replied that she didn’t. Earlier, the trial earlier heard how the couple started dating in January last year and soon moved in together at properties in Kilmarnock.
But there were regular rows after Katie fell pregnant.
Butterworth allegedly attacked her at a number of properties in Kilmarnock last November 3, when she was 36 weeks pregnant.
The indictment claims Butterworth “kicked her on the stomach” and chased her, causing her to “flee and fall”.
It is also alleged he did “repeatedly inflict blunt force trauma on her head and body”.
The jury were yesterday shown screenshots of messages the couple exchanged after the death of Lucas in hospital.
The messages included Katie stating she had a “lump in my throat every morning”.
The jury were told about a photograph that was taken of Katie with her baby before his death.
The 20-year-old said Jack had taken the photo.
The advocate depute asked her: “How were you and Jack?”
Katie replied: “Trying to stay strong. We were both really scared, both upset.”
On Tuesday, Katie told the court that Butterworth “went to hit her on the back”, but struck her baby bump as she turned round to face him.
Butterworth faces a separate charge of assaulting Katie between January and November last year.
It is alleged he threw fire crackers at her and punched and kicked her.
A further charge claims he behaved in a threatening manner towards Katie and another woman.
Prosecutors allege Butterworth broke wardrobe mirrors and threw furniture.
He denies the charges and the trial before Judge Lord Ericht continues.