Joshua Millinson murder trial: Accused baby killer 'had temper'
'I knew Daniel had a temper but I never thought he would show that sort of aggression towards his son.'
The words of the mother of a newborn baby allegedly murdered by his father.
Zoe Howell said she did not fear Daniel Sanzone would hurt her son despite knowing he had a temper, a court heard.
Giving evidence at trial, Howell was read transcripts of her police interview in which she told officers she had been 'gripped' several times by Sanzone.
And she admitted Sanzone had told her he felt like 'battering her'.
Sally Howes QC, prosecuting, put to Howell she knew what Sanzone could be like, because she had been on the receiving end.
Howell, responded: "Why would I feel the need to protect my son from his own dad?
After the tot's death Sanzone also secretly recorded asking Howell to change her version of events.
Sanzone is accused of shaking 13-day-old Joshua Millinson at his Wolverhampton home in October last year, causing him 'catastrophic' brain injuries which caused his death.
The court heard previously how in a police interview Howell - Joshua's mother - told officers she heard a thud come from the living room the night Joshua entered cardiac arrest and that Sanzone had been alone with the child.
In his interview, Sanzone told police the bang could have been the sound of their sofa hitting the wall.
The court heard the following day the pair were covertly recorded while being transported in a police van.
Transcripts were read to the jury by Mr Philip Stott, prosecuting.
Quoting Sanzone speaking to Howell, he said: "My solicitor has asked me to ask you to change what you said.
"Everything else is fine except the bit about the sofa. Thud makes it sound like I have dropped him or something. Can you do that for me?"
Howell said she would try and change her account, said Mr Stott.
The jury at Birmingham Crown Court were told police officers went to the pair's home in Whitburn Close, Pendeford, to test what sound the sofa made when an averagely built officer sat on it.
Mr Stott said the police found that no 'discernible sound or thud' could be heard.
Sanzone, 23, denies murdering Joshua, causing or allowing his death and cruelty to a child.
Howell, 19, of the same address, faces and denies causing or allowing Joshua's death.
She was yesterday found not guilty on the charge of cruelty to a child. The trial continues.
