Michael Roe denies shaking baby Holly in a rage over milk

Michael Roe, 33, is accused of violently shaking his eight-week-old daughter to death.

Holly Roe came home from a premature baby unit on August 9, 2018.

The court heard by her death on September 10 she had suffered 12 rib fractures and multiple brain injuries.

Roe and his former partner Tiffany Tate, 22, deny murdering their baby and allowing the other to kill her.

Michael Roe is accused of violently shaking baby Holly to death

Giving evidence, Roe admitted he tried to feed his baby with a syringe up her nose when she would not take her bottle.

Prosecutor Sally Howes QC said the tiny baby was not gaining weight and social services were beginning to take an interest.

She told him: “You were desperate and had started to lose your temper.

“When you were feeding and the syringe didn’t work, that was when you really lost your temper.”

“No,” Roe said.

Tiffany Tate was accused by Michael Roe on fatally injuring baby Holly

Scientific evidence in the trial has shown the baby had suffered broken ribs on two occasions before her death.

Ms Howes said: “This was the first incident, wasn’t it?

“You picked her up and shook her.”

Roe said: “Absolutely not.”

“That was the first time you shook her and that’s when she broke those ribs and that’s why she screamed,” Ms Howes said.

“No,” Roe replied.

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Roe previously claimed ex-girlfriend Tate, 22, shook their baby to death when he left them alone to smoke a joint and watch porn.

Ms Howes told him: “Everything that happened was when you were on your own with her.”

“I’d say that’s rubbish,” Roe replied. 

The case continues.