Man accused of murder 'panicked' after thinking baby was choking - court

A man accused of murdering his partner's baby said he tried to save the child because he feared he was choking.

Thomas Morgan, 29, denies murdering five-month-old Jensen-Lee Dougal at the family home in Swansea.

Morgan was left alone with Jensen-Lee while his partner Jordan Dougal went to work on 30 March 2024.

He told the trial on Friday that he feared the baby was choking on his own sick and put his fingers in the baby's mouth to remove any blockage. He said Jensen Lee's body seemed limp when he picked him up and "shook him".

Morgan said he was holding the baby around his rib cage.

"I panicked," he said. "I was saying his name, and I shook him to get a reaction out of him."

John Hipkin, defending, asked him: "What force did you use?"

Morgan replied: "I can't explain the force but not enough to cause any harm."

When Hipkin asked whether it was his intention to cause harm, Morgan replied "absolutely not".

Jensen-Lee died on 31 March 2024 after life-support in hospital was removed.

Morgan, of Gorseinon, Swansea, also denies three counts of causing the baby grievous bodily harm with intent between January and March 2024.

Morgan told the court he had moved in with Dougal in January 2024, and they had known each other since school.

The court heard Morgan dropped off his two children to his ex-partner outside the Cooper's Arms pub.

He said his son's finger got caught on the car door and that started an argument between him and his ex-partner.

Morgan told the court how he went to "meet someone" to buy cannabis while Jensen-Lee was still sleeping in the car and then went on to a shop in Clydach to buy a box of lager and pasties. He said he was planning on staying at home and watching football.

After returning to the home in Player's Avenue, he brought Jensen-Lee into the lounge in his car seat and let the three dogs out of the kitchen door.

"The dogs had been to the toilet in the house and I cleared up the dog mess in the kitchen," he told the court.

On returning to the lounge, he noticed the baby had been sick, so went upstairs to find a clean babygrow but "there were clothes everywhere" and he "couldn't find the right size".

When he returned to the lounge, he noticed Jensen-Lee had been sick again and, fearing he was choking on vomit, tried putting his fingers in his mouth and shaking him.

He also attempted to carry out CPR, he said.

"I was in a panic and used both hands."

Morgan then ran outside and shouted to neighbours who were in the garden to call an ambulance. One neighbour said she was first aid trained and also tried CPR.

When Hipkin asked what his state of mind was at the time, Morgan said he "was in a complete panic".

In cross examination, Caroline Rees, prosecuting, asked Morgan: "Did you intend to cause any harm on 30 March?"

"No," he replied.

"Do you accept it was you who killed Jensen?" Rees asked.

"No," he replied.

Morgan told the court he believed Jensen-Lee had choked on his own vomit.

Rees said: "You made up this choking line to hide that you had violently shaken him, didn't you?"

"No I didn't, I was in a panic and had never been in this situation in my life," he responded.

The prosecution barrister put to him: "This was not panic, this was rage."

Morgan denied it was rage.

The trial continues.