Dudley baby death trial: Court hears father tried CPR on daughter

Philip Peace, who was interviewed on May 10, 2018, told officers he was in a panic as Summer became “limp” on September 8, 2017, a judge heard.

Birmingham Crown Court was shown the footage, relating to when the 42-year-old was arrested, in which he described the situation as “surreal”.

The defendant, who denies murder and manslaughter, told police officers he lifted Summer up who was “limp” and was struggling to breathe.

More from the trial:

• Dudley baby death trial: Medics tell of fight for little Summer

• Father could have caused brain injuries to girl in panic after she collapsed, trial told

• Man on trial over baby daughter's death

Peace said he had performed mouth-to-mouth but it seemed it “wasn’t doing anything” to help and he had informed 999 how far apart her breathing was.

He carried out chest compressions – by putting his hands together and pushing down – but explained he had only performed CPR around 10 years ago on a dummy, jurors heard.

Peace, of Himley Road, Dudley, said he could not remember how many times he pushed down, but explained he was pushing “probably quite hard” to get a reaction from his daughter, a court was told.

The defendant said during the police interview that Summer did not react to the CPR and said the situation was “surreal” and “like it wasn’t really happening”, jurors heard.

Medical reports cited by police in the interview revealed the five-month-old had suffered 11 rib fractures as they asked the defendant how he lifted up his daughter and how tightly.

Peace told officers he was not sure “how tightly” he grabbed his daughter when he lifted her up and the only thing he could think of, which could cause the fractures, was CPR.

The defendant, when questioned over how Summer suffered brain injuries, said it may have been caused when her head “kind of threw back” when he lifted her up, following her collapse, a judge heard.

The trial continues.