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Mylee Billingham: Accused father said daughter was his 'best friend', court hears

A MURDER-accused father suspected of killing his young daughter has claimed his life revolved around his children, jurors have heard.

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Mylee Billingham died in January

William Billingham revealed he 'did everything' with best friend Mylee Billingham and struggled to come to terms with allegations he killed his daughter during an assessment with a defence psychiatrist.

It came six months after he was charged with murdering the school girl, with prosecutors alleging he plunged a blade through the youngster's chest at his Brownhills home in January.

Giving evidence during the murder trial, Dr Nuwan Galappathie told Birmingham Crown Court Billingham had said his relationship with Mylee was 'fantastic'.

Billingham told the medic: "Mylee was a best friend. We did everything together - watched TV, played games, puzzles, football. She played for the school, I took her to dance and football matches. She liked to be outside."

"I still find [the allegations] unbelievable. I still have problems processing it. Seeing her funeral on TV made me realise."

Father-of-six Billingham, who was assessed at HMP Birmingham in July, recalled enjoying swimming with Mylee and her two sisters and going to the cinema.

He complained of feeling lower self-esteem than usual in the months leading up to Mylee's death and claimed he 'felt better' when he was with his children.

The unemployed factory worker said he would look after his children at ex-partner Tracey Taundry's home, staying there for up to 12 hours a day so she could 'go out', the court heard.

Dr Galappathie told the trial: "He said that his life revolved around having them. He said he did not take them out much in the period prior to the alleged offence."

Billingham became concerned about his children's use of the internet, which led to Ms Taundry telling the defendant she would 'sort it out'.

The 55-year-old was 'worried' about Mylee's sisters spending too much time watching 'YouTube and silly stuff', with one of them becoming abusive and throwing things at him when he tried to limit their use.

Billingham told Dr Galappathie: "The only time they came down was to eat, it started to concern me. I would go home angry sometimes. I could not get to see them, the only one who I could spend time with was Mylee.

Prosecutors allege Billingham plunged a 20cm knife through Mylee's chest in his Valley View bungalow moments before threatening to kill Ms Taundry with the same weapon on January 20.

He denies making a threat to kill and murder. The trial continues.

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