Murder accused placed foot on boy’s neck – claim

COURT: Trial of Fife pair who deny murdering toddler Liam Fee enters day nine

A young boy fell unconscious when a woman accused of murder put her foot on his neck as he lay on a floor, a court has heard.

Nyomi Fee also smacked and punched the child during the attack, jurors were told.

The trial has also heard how the boy tried to escape on three separate occasions from the house where Fee lived with her partner.

The evidence emerged on day nine of the trial of Rachel Trelfa or Fee, 31, and her civil partner Nyomi Fee, 28, at the High Court in Livingston, where they deny murdering toddler Liam Fee and falsely blaming his death on another young boy.

Two-year-old Liam was found dead at a house in Fife on March 22 2014.

Trelfa – Liam’s mother – and Fee also plead not guilty to a catalogue of allegations of wilfully ill-treating and neglecting two other young boys over a period of more than two years.

Jurors have been hearing prerecorded interviews with the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, the women blame for the death, conducted by a police officer and social worker.

Asked about an occasion when something happened to his neck, he said: “It was at night... I was getting smacked and punched and I was told to lie on the floor and she (Fee) put her foot on my neck and it made me unconscious for a while.

“I woke up and she was hurting me and punching me on my back because I must have done something but I don’t know what because I was unconscious.”

He said such an attack happened more than once and spoke of an occasion where Fee made Trelfa join in.

The boy also described trying to get out of their house on three occasions.

On one occasion, he was smacked and told to get in a drawer unit after being caught by Fee, the court heard.

Referring to the second attempt to flee, he described how he managed to untie himself during the night from a cot, before trying to pack some clothes and food. He also tied some bandages together, jurors heard.

“I tried to open the window but it was locked and I was looking for the keys and I couldn’t find it,” he said.

The court heard his plan was “to put down the ropes, bandages and climb down the house”, but he said it did not work because Fee caught him.

He said: “She came in to check on me. She shouted to (Trelfa) and she was smacking me, Nyomi.

“Then she took out the drawer and put it on the floor of the corridor and I was told to go in it and she put heavy things on top of it.”

They boy also described trying to leave the house on another occasion when a cage for rats had been placed in front of his door.

The evidence emerged in a video of him being questioned by defence QCs for Fee and Trelfa.

He told Mark Stewart QC, representing Fee: “I tried to run away because of bad treatment and stuff.”

In further questioning, he denied a suggestion he had got angry with Liam and thrown the toddler across a room.

Mr Stewart also asked: “If I were to say to you that you were in the room and you were on top of Liam and put your hand on his mouth to stop him making a noise, do you remember something like that happening?” “No,” said the boy. In an earlier interview with police, the youngster claimed he “strangled” Liam days before his death and described putting his hand over the boy’s mouth.

But in a subsequent interview, he said he had not put his hand over the toddler’s mouth.

Brian McConnachie QC, representing Trelfa, asked the boy: “Did you do that to Liam?”

“It might have happened, I really don’t know,” the child replied.

Mr McConnachie also asked whether he had put his foot on Liam’s chest to stop him crying.

“It’s so long ago I can’t remember,” he replied.

The boy also agreed that he recalled telling a policeman: “I wish I hadn’t done it,” but said he could not remember what it was he was referring to.

Both women deny all the charges against them.

The trial, before Judge Lord Burns, continues on Monday.

Murder victim Liam Fee.