Moment baby is found not breathing shown to jury

Kate Roughley denies manslaughter and an alternative count of child cruelty

Footage showing the moment a nursery worker realised a baby girl in her care was not breathing has been shown to a jury.

Kate Roughley, 37, denies manslaughter and an alternative count of child cruelty over the death of nine-month-old Genevieve Meehan, and is standing trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Genevieve had been swaddled in a blanket and placed on her front on a beanbag, before Ms Roughley fastened a strap across her back and placed another blanket over her.

Ms Roughley, who worked at Tiny Toes Nursery in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, then left her in that position for one hour and 37 minutes as she struggled and cried, the court heard.

'She's not breathing'

The jury was shown CCTV footage from the room where Genevieve was being cared for on 9 May, 2022, the day of her death.

It showed Ms Roughley, of Heaton Norris in Stockport, approach the youngster, lean over and place her right hand on Genevieve's back for several seconds.

Ms Roughley was seen to crouch down and flip the child over before jumping and shouting "she's not breathing".

A colleague could be seen unfastening the beanbag strap and lifting Genevieve, who was floppy and unresponsive, to a play mat where staff attempted to rouse her.

Genevieve, the daughter of Katie Wheeler and John Meehan, was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead later that afternoon.

Earlier Peter Wright, KC, prosecuting, said in the days before Genevieve died Ms Roughley had allegedly "taken against" the baby, calling her a "stress head".

CCTV from the nursery earlier on 9 May recorded comments from Ms Roughley to her colleagues including: “Genevieve was screaming but if you keep yourself busy you can’t hear her crying.”

She was also seen clapping and singing “Oh Genevieve. Genevieve go home, Genevieve go home, go home Genevieve” as the youngster cried on a play mat.

Shortly before 13:30 BST, Ms Roughley told a colleague: “She has been awake since half 10.”

The colleague responds: “She must be tired though, surely.”

Ms Roughley said: “Rather just put her on the beanbag, then I’m not wasting a cot.

"Cos if I put her in there she’s going to scream and wake (unnamed child) up.”

The jury was shown footage of Genevieve appearing to be in distress until 14:23, when the crying stops and a minute later she moves for the final time.

Opening the case, Mr Wright said strapping a child down in such a way was an "obvious recipe for disaster".

Sarah Elliott KC, defending Ms Roughley, briefly summarised the defence case by telling jurors: "Genevieve's death was a terrible and unavoidable accident and not caused by any acts of Kate Roughley that were unlawful."

Ms Roughley denies manslaughter and an alternative count of child cruelty.

The trial continues.