Child murder trial latest: jury considering its verdict

Sep 23 2008 by Lois York, Chester Chronicle

THE jury in the Joanne Hill murder trial at Chester Crown Court is considering its verdict.

The eight men and four women were sent out at 12.50pm today (Tuesday) by judge Elgan Edwards, the recorder of Chester, as the trial entered its third week.

After summing up, he told jurors: “The time has come for you to retire to consider your verdict in this case. You have got as long as you want, don't feel under pressure.”

Joanne Hill, 32, of Goya Close in Connah's Quay is accused of murdering her daughter Naomi, four. She admits killing her by drowning her in the bath on November 26, 2007. But she denies murder.

The jury can only return verdicts of guilty of murder or guilty of manslaughter.

The prosecution has argued Mrs Hill killed Naomi because she could not cope with her daughter's mild form of cerebral palsy.

Her defence argue she is guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and that she was suffering from an “abnormality of mind” when she killed her.

The trial has heard that on November 26, 2007, Mrs Hill, collected her daughter from the childminder's in Connah's Quay at 5.45pm. She took her home. There she took her upstairs, undressed her and drowned her in the bath. She then dressed her, put her in a child's seat in the back of the car and drove around for several hours stopping to drink wine before turning up at the Countess of Chester Hospital at 3.35am the following day, asking staff for help.

The court heard evidence from her husband Simon Hill, who said the couple's relationship was “unbearable” towards the end and that her drinking had become heavier. He also said he did not think his wife had ever come to terms with their daughter's disability.

The court has also heard how Mrs Hill has a history of mental health problems dating back to the age of 17.

Dr Aideen O'Halloran, a forensic consultant psychiatrist, says based on evidence from witnesses around the time of the killing, her mental health history and her own assessments, Mrs Hill was suffering from an abnormality of mind when she killed her child. She says she was showing signs of depression and disassociation.

But Dr Paul Chesterman, a forensic consultant psychiatrist disputes that she was ill at the time of the killing. He told the court that just because someone behaves in a bizarre fashion, it is not necessarily an indication of mental illness.

He also said her behaviour at the time of the killing was not consistent with someone who is depressed.

The trial continues.