Woman ‘wanted to be with murder accused’

A woman wanted to abort her baby so she could be with the teenager charged with later killing the child, a court heard.

Katie Strawhorn, 20, claimed she would rather be with boyfriend Jack Butterworth than give birth. Jurors heard she made the remarks to her housing officer.

It was also claimed Katie was later seen to be “upset” at her flat with Butterworth inside “very angry”.

The evidence emerged yesterday at Butterworth’s trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The 18-year-old is charged with the culpable homicide of his baby son, Lucas, in November 2016.

Prosecutors claim he assaulted Katie and that she suffered a “placental abruption” resulting in the boy being born by emergency caesarean section.

The child was said to be so severely injured that he died five days later in hospital.

Butterworth is accused of attacking Ms Strawhorn at properties in Kilmarnock on 3 November.

He denies the charges and the trial, before Judge Lord Ericht, continues.