A 32-year-old man has admitted killing his two-month-old baby daughter by violently shaking her at their flat in East Lothian, Scotland, the United Kingdom.
Joseph Ray, 32, admitted a reduced charge of culpable homicide. He had initially faced a charge of murder at the High Court in Glasgow.
The attack on baby Ava Ray, which took place in Prestonpans in November 2012, resulted in an investigation lasting nearly seven years.
However, after the long-winded investigation, Joseph Ray will be sentenced next month for his crime.
Judge Lady Stacey remanded him in custody until sentencing is due to take place.
The court heard it was concluded at that time there were “no apparent suspicious circumstances” and the baby’s death was initially treated as “unascertained”.
However, between 2014 and 2018, a number of experts were consulted.
Prosecutor Ashley Edwards QC said Ray, a binman, and his partner Lauren Scott had “arguments” after the birth of Ava in September 2012.
On the evening of the killing, Ava had been left in the care of Ray while Ms Scott went to work in a local bar.
At about 22:50, Ray rushed to a neighbour’s house saying he had found his daughter “cold to the touch”.
A 999 call was made and Ray was told to carry out CPR while an ambulance was sent out.
Ms Edwards said: “A paramedic observed immediately that the baby was in cardiac arrest, white in colour, limp and unresponsive.”
Tests at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children showed her brain had been “starved” of oxygen. Ava sadly died early the next morning.
“Following protracted discussions…the medical consensus is now that the pattern of injury…was caused by trauma,” Ms Edwards said.
In March 2019, Ray first appeared in court in connection with his daughter’s death. He had previously been on bail.
Det Insp David Pinkney said: “Ray took the life of his daughter. Just months old, Ava should have been safest in the care of her father – instead he inflicted injuries that she would never recover from.
“I would like to thank Ava’s extended family for their support throughout the investigation and I sincerely hope that the punishment handed to Ray offers them some form of closure so that they can begin to move on with their lives.”
Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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