PARENTS JAILED OVER DEATH OF BABY
A man has received a life sentence after being convicted of murdering his eight-week-old daughter.Michael Roe is expected to serve at least 19 years behind bars for the death of Holly Roe in Crowborough, East Sussex.
Holly's mother, 22-year-old Tiffany Tate, was sentenced to two years and nine months for her role in allowing her child's death.
Holly, who was born prematurely, passed away at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury in September 2018.
The trial at Hove Crown Court revealed she had sustained severe head injuries.
It was reported that she had bruising on her brain and spinal cord, as well as fractured ribs, with evidence indicating these injuries resulted from violent shaking rather than an accident.
During the court proceedings, it was also disclosed that Michael Roe, 33, of Alderbrook Close, Crowborough, had altered his account multiple times regarding the circumstances leading to Holly’s death.
Sentencing Roe, Mr Justice Edward Murray said: "When you get frustrated you would lose your temper and lash out, unfortunately for baby Holly one lashing out proved fatal.
"Clearly you had a position of trust in relation to Holly - the highest possible as her father - which you abused." He told the court how Roe and Tate each "blamed the other" in the aftermath of the death of their child.
The judge said Roe's efforts to pin the blame on Tate had begun "even before Holly's death".
The court had been told Roe had had a traumatic childhood including incidents of physical abuse.
Mr Justice Murray said he had taken into account Tate's lack of maturity and status as a looked-after person.
Danny Robinson, defending Tate, had argued there was "no evidence" she had directly witnessed or learned of any shaking of Holly.
