Father charged with killing 8-week-old daughter who died of traumatic head injury while mother 'let it happen'
A 32-year-old father has been charged with the murder of his eight-week-old daughter, according to reports. The man, identified as Michael Roe, was charged after police rushed to his home on September 10, 2018 in Crowborough, East Sussex following reports that the infant was struggling to breathe.
The child, named Holly, was taken to Pembury Hospital where she eventually died. A post-mortem examination later revealed that the infant had suffered a traumatic head injury which led to her heath. Both the parents were charged in the case, with the mother, 21-year-old Tiffany Tate, charged with allowing or causing the infant's death.
Reports state that Roe was arrested at home on September 3 and charged with the murder of a child under one-year-old, wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent, and causing or allowing the death of a child. He appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court on September 4. Meanwhile, Tate is set to appear before the magistrate on September 12, according to the Sun.
Holly was prematurely born in July 2018 with medical difficulties and had to remain in the hospital for four weeks. The infant spent her time in an incubator in neonatal care before she was permitted to go home with her parents.
Roe, who is unemployed, had reportedly called the days-old infant a "little fighter" when he posted a picture of himself with his girlfriend Tate holding Holly in the hospital where the baby was hooked to tubes.
The 32-year-old had written on Facebook in July, 2018: "We are finally home was amazing to hold her. So hard not to get that skin to skin contact but least we got to hold her before tiff me come home. She is doing really well breathing by herself. and now feeding 1ml per hour. She’s a little fighter."
When Tate put up a selfie with Holly around the same time, Roe commented on the picture, saying: "My two beautiful girls. Love you so much."
Roe, before Holly's death, had also posted a picture of the little girl with a halo photoshopped over her head. One of his friends commented on the picture, saying: "Shine bright little diamond." He was remanded in custody and is set to appear at Lewes Crown Court on September 6.