A MOTHER has told a court how a man accused of trying to murder her 11-week-old baby looked "really worried" when the tot suddenly became unwell.
The woman - who can’t be identified for legal reasons - told the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday that she left Derren MacLennan (41) in charge of her child at a house in Tain in February 2010.
The court heard the female say MacLennan was with the infant in another room in the property when the baby let out a "sore", "horrible" cry.
Moments later, the woman ran into the room to find the baby's eyes shut tightly and bubbles blowing from its mouth.
She then told MacLennan to phone 999 and the infant was rushed to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
The female spoke on the first day of the trial of MacLennan of Tain, Easter Ross, who denies a single charge of attempted murder.
During her evidence, the woman told advocate depute David Young QC that MacLennan was helping to look after her child on February 23 2010 when the tot suddenly became unwell.
The woman said that the child let out a "horrible" cry. This caused her to run into the room where MacLennan was with the baby.
She told the court MacLennan was pacing the floor looking really worried, while the baby’s eyes were tightly shut with its arms down and head straight back.
The baby was blowing bubbles from its mouth and the woman took the infant from him immediately.
"It was horrible, really horrible," said the mother.
The court then heard the woman told MacLennan to phone for an ambulance. An emergency vehicle then arrived and took the child to hospital in Inverness.
MacLennan has pleaded not guilty to an attempted murder charge which alleges on February 23 2010, he seized the baby by the body, repeatedly shook her and struck her on the head against a solid surface, or compress her head, all to her severe injury, permanent impairment and to the danger of her life.
At the start of proceedings, the jury of nine men and six women heard that proceedings were expected to take around one month. The trial continues today (Tuesday).
