Gary Baird: Daughter of murder accused says father 'gentle, kind'

Gary Baird denies murdering his wife Susan Baird at their home in Belfast in 2020

The daughter of a man accused of murdering his wife has described her father as very gentle and kind.

Gary Baird, 64, denies the murder of Susan Baird, 60, at their home in the Four Winds area of Belfast in August 2020.

He had pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter, but this plea was not accepted by the prosecution.

On Friday, the couple's daughter, Janice Dunseith, gave evidence before a jury of seven women and five men.

Ms Dunseith, 38, who is a nurse and the couple's eldest daughter, described her mother as "kind, caring, a best friend, and a devoted Christian".

When a defence barrister asked her about her father - a former security guard - she said he was "very gentle, again very kind".

She said their family was "close, very close, a normal family".

'He knew that'

During her testimony on Friday, Ms Dunseith paused and took a moment to compose herself when she was shown a photograph of her father and mother together on holiday in Portrush, a month before her mother was killed.

The photograph of the couple smiling was sent by Susan Baird with a caption saying: "Holidays excited."

Ms Dunseith told the jury that she first noticed her father struggling with mental health issues in 2015 after his mother died.

She said she had raised concerns with medical professionals after he collided with a lorry 10 days before her mother was killed.

She explained that her father was concerned about their mother's care while he was in hospital being treated for his injuries.

Asked if her father acknowledged his mental health struggles, she replied: "He knew that."

Ms Dunseith also told the jury that she, her two sisters and brother are in regular contact with their father.

Susan Baird died at her home in Windermere Gardens in south Belfast in August 2020

Susan Baird worked as an administrator at Orangefield Presbyterian Church in east Belfast.

She died after suffering multiple injuries, including fractures to her skull, lacerations on her brain and forehead, and bruising on various parts of her body.

Her injuries were so bad that she had to be identified from her dental records.

'Marriage difficulties'

Earlier this week, the jury was told that the defendant said he had "a tiff" with his wife on the day of the killing. He further explained that he had a hammer because he had been doing DIY work in the house that day.

He then claimed that "voices" in his head had told him: "This is your time. This is your opportunity."

The trial has also previously heard that the couple had been experiencing marriage difficulties for a number of years.

Three years before her death, Susan Baird sent a solicitor's letter to her husband stating that she was planning to begin divorce proceedings.

They subsequently took part in counselling and stayed together in the family home in Windermere Road, south Belfast.

The jury has also been shown CCTV footage of Gary Baird being hit by a bin lorry on a road in the centre of Belfast 10 days before he attacked his wife.

Following the death of his wife, Gary Baird was detained in Belfast City Hospital's acute mental health unit for more than a year.

The jury has heard that the issue of diminished responsibility will be raised during the trial.