Ava looked to you for support and love.. instead you snuffed out her life
Young father gets seven years for culpable homicide of his daughter
A DAD who killed his two-month-old baby daughter by shaking her twice when she woke him with her crying was yesterday jailed for seven years.
Joseph Ray, 32, carried out the fatal attack on Ava at their flat in Prestonpans, East Lothian, on November 1, 2012.
Binman Ray was originally charged with murder after a near seven-year probe into the death, but pled guilty to a reduced charge of culpable homicide.
Jailing him at the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lady Stacey told Ray: “As you know, Ava was entitled to look to you for love, affection and support. You failed in that and your failure had terrible consequences.
“I accept this was caused by momentary loss of control. She was a tiny baby and you should have treated her with care and attention.
“Ava’s life was snuffed out just as she should have been able to look to you for support. She was a much-loved child and what you did took that child’s life.”
Defence QC Shelagh McCall said: “Mr Ray’s explanation for what happened is he had a long working day, his partner Lauren Scott was out and he was left with the care of the baby.
“He fed her and put her down as usual and he was awoken by her crying. After very little sleep and feeling overwhelmed and angry, he shook her twice.
“He still struggles to understand that what he did had such a catastrophic outcome.” Ms McCall said the case had taken so long to come to court because of “contrasting medical views”.
Baby Ava, who was born on September 3, 2012, was the first child for Ray and Lauren.
Prosecutor Ashley Edwards QC said the couple had arguments after the birth, mainly over who would do night-time feeds.
On the day of the killing, Ava was left in the care of Ray, as Lauren had gone to work at a local bar at 6.30pm. At about 10.50pm, Ray went to a neighbour’s house and said his daughter was “cold to the touch”. Ms Edwards said: “He was described as upset and crying.”
A 999 call was made and paramedics found Ava “white in colour, limp and unresponsive”.
Ava was rushed to Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children where she died the next morning.
Ms Edwards added: “Following protracted discussions...the medical consensus is now that the pattern of injury...was caused by trauma.”
You should have treated her with care and attention JUDGE LADY STACEY ON SENTENCING RAY