Joshua Millinson baby murder trial: Mother heard 'bang' before baby's death
The mother of baby Joshua Millinson told police he was 'floppy' and 'lifeless' the night his father allegedly shook him causing fatal brain injuries, a court heard.
Zoe Howell recalled being in the kitchen of their Wolverhampton home and hearing a loud bang come from the living room in a police interview three days after 13-day-old Joshua collapsed.
When she entered she found Joshua's father, Daniel Sanzone, hovering over him on the sofa, the court heard.
Transcripts of police interviews with Howell were read to the jury by Mr Philip Stott, prosecuting.
Quoting Howell, he said: "While I was making a bottle there was a loud bang.
"I rushed into the living room to see what happened and Daniel was changing him bum.
"Joshua was crying. It was a different cry. A proper scream. A different scream.
"I finished the bottle and gave it to Daniel. I went back into the kitchen to clean up the mess I had made making the bottle. Daniel then shouted for me to check Joshua. He was floppy."
The court heard in interview Howell said Sanzone told her the bang was the sound of the TV remote hitting the floor but she did not think it sounded the same.
Again quoting Howell, Mt Stott, said: "He was all floppy. Daniel had just finished his nappy. He picked him up and you could just tell he was all floppy. It was like he weren't with us. It was like lifeless." Joshua was taken to New Cross Hospital in cardiac arrest on October 24 last year and died following nearly a month on life support.
He had suffered brain injuries, bleeding within the layer protecting his brain, and extensive bleeding into both retinas, as well as fractures in his legs and ribs.
Sanzone, 23, of Whitburn Close, Pendeford, denies murdering Joshua, causing or allowing his death and cruelty to a child.
Howell, 19, of the same address, faces and denies the latter two charges and is accused by the prosecution of 'turning a blind eye' to the risk of harm to her child.
The trial also heard accounts of Sanzone's police interviews in which he said the bang heard by Howell could have been the sound of their sofa hitting the wall as he sat back on it.
He also told police he did not know how Joshua had suffered his injuries.
"Me and his mum need answers to how this happened."
The trial continues.
