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Father jailed for life after shaking his baby daughter to death

Baby Hope's mother Nicola makes heartbreaking statement saying her daughter was 'perfect'.

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Neil Smith, and right, his baby daughter Hope Smith

A father will serve a minimum of 13 years in prison after shaking his baby daughter to death at the family home.

Neil Smith was caring for little Hope Sofia - who was just four months-old at the time - on his own for the first time on the evening of August 4, 2017.

Police say Smith had wanted to watch football on TV and they believe he may have become frustrated at having to look after his little girl.

Smith, of Coleridge Close, Willenhall, had denied murder but was convicted today following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Smith, 33, had been left alone with baby Hope while his wife Nicola had gone out for the evening, the court heard.

More coverage from the trial:

But less than 10 minutes after making a FaceTime chat to check on her, Mrs Smith received a call from her husband on the evening of August 4, 2017 to say their four-month-old daughter was ‘floppy and lifeless’.

Hope was taken to Walsall Manor Hospital and later to Birmingham Children's Hospital but she died some months later from catastrophic brain injuries.

He was handed a life sentence with a 13-year minimum term.

Hope was taken to hospital but failed to recover and her life support machine was switched off in November that year.

A post mortem revealed catastrophic brain injuries which were consistent with being shaken or thrown onto a soft surface, or possibly both, and Smith - who had been previously questioned on suspicion of assault - was charged with murder.

The 33-year-old - who suffered serious injuries of his own following an industrial accident in 2015 - was convicted of murder.

Smith, now of Coleridge Close, Willenhall, was sentenced to life to serve a minimum of 13 years in prison.

Police say 'no justification' for baby's death

Det Sgt Nick Barnes, from the force’s homicide team, said: "We will never really know what caused Smith to turn so aggressive and violent against his own daughter.

"He appeared intent on watching a football match on TV that night and maybe the frustration of having to care for the needs of his own flesh and blood manifested itself.

"But whatever the reason, there can never be any justification for leaving his very young daughter with catastrophic injuries.

"This has left a devastating impact on the rest of family who are still coping with their loss."

Mother still has questions over daughter's murder

In a statement her mother Nicola said: "My daughter was perfect to me, I loved her, I still love her, my beautiful baby girl.

"When Hope Sofia was born it was like the last part of a puzzle fitting into place.

"The date 4 August 2017, the day she was taken to hospital, was one of the worst days of my life but it got worse.

"Soon after Hope Sofia’s admission to hospital, doctors began to explain that she had suffered serious ‘non accidental’ injuries and she was unlikely to survive them.

"My baby girl survived for three months until she died on 9 November 2017.

"My husband stood accused of causing these awful injuries and was eventually charged.

"I listened to the injuries he caused, graphically described by doctors and experts, during the trial.

"Her own father shook her so hard he killed her.

"I cannot forgive him for what he has done, I loved that man, I cared for that man, I loved him, for better for worse and in sickness and in health; but he snatched away our daughter’s life and has not been brave enough to accept it or to tell anyone why he did it.

"We cannot get closure because the question will always be, why did he do this?!

"I will miss Hope Sofia every day and I will miss experiencing the life she would have had, those things other mothers get to share with their daughters, the things you take for granted.

"She will miss all of the opportunities in life to be a daughter, a granddaughter and a sister."

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