A baby killer who blamed another child for the newborn’s death has been locked up for her murder.
Nicole Blain, 30, lost her temper while supposedly looking after 19-day-old Thea June Wilson at her flat in Greenock, Renfrewshire on July 14, 2023
The infant suffered a string of catastrophic injuries including three skull fractures, brain damage and bleeding behind the eyes.
These were consistent with the baby being violently shaken and repeatedly hit off a hard floor, wall or furniture.
But, in a sick cover-up bid, Blain said had woken up from a nap to find her daughter stricken on the floor - and went on to claim another child in the flat had ‘done’ whatever happened to Thea.
The lies were branded ‘nonsense’ by prosecutors.
A pathologist also effectively ruled out Thea could have been fatally hurt by being dropped by this youngster.
Blain was yesterday (Wed) found guilty following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Nicole Blain, 30, blamed another child for the death of her newborn daughter Thea - but has been found guilty of her murder
Lord Scott told her: ‘I will be passing a life sentence. I do want more information about you before deciding the length of the punishment part [the minimum time Blain will spend in jail].
‘In the meantime, you will be remanded in custody.’
Blain - who had been on bail - cried hysterically as she was led handcuffed to the cells. She will return to the dock next month.
Thea was described during the trial as ‘perfect’ when she was born on June 25, 2023.
But after the birth Blain claimed to be ‘struggling’ with post-natal depression.
Thea’s paternal grandmother Laura Wilson told the court she had last seen the baby on July 8.
The 59-year-old, whose son Ross had a relationship with Blain, described the infant as ‘fantastic’ and said she had no worries about her.
On the day of the killing, there had been a plan for Blain to take the child to Mrs Wilson’s home in Ayrshire.
Baby Thea suffered injuries described as similar to those suffered by a car crash victim
She told jurors Blain called around 2pm that day and added: ‘I could hear screaming. I had never heard anything like it.
‘It was piercing and extremely loud. I thought it was an older child doing it, but then I realised it was the baby who was screaming.
‘She [Blain] did mumble “I do not know what to do”. She did not sound right.
‘I said “hang up and phone an ambulance”.’
Mrs Wilson recalled: ‘She said she had found Thea on the floor with no clothes on and had a bump on her head.’
The grandmother rushed to the hospital in Glasgow to be with the baby and quizzed Blain about what had happened.
She told the court: ‘She said that it was (another child also staying with her) who had done it.’
Thea did not recover from what was described as a ‘significant non-accidental head trauma’.
She also had injuries to her ribs consistent with her chest being pressed.
The baby’s neck was also hurt which could have been from ‘forceful’ movement back and forwards of her head.
Pathologist Leighanne Deboys told the jury a combination of Thea being shaken and impact with a hard surface would account for the injuries - described by another medic as similar to those suffered by a car crash victim.
Blain also testified during her trial and sobbed as she claimed her daughter’s death was ‘a tragic accident’.
However, the killer said she did not know for definite what happened to Thea, but that ‘never in a million years’ would she have harmed her.
Blain, pictured at the High Court in Glasgow, claimed what happened to her baby daughter was a 'tragic accident'
She also denied ‘throwing (the other child) under the bus’ by claiming the youngster had been responsible and said: ‘I can remember the trauma of finding my daughter. I will never get it out of my head. My baby died in my arms.’
Prosecutor Alan Cameron KC said any suggestion another child could have caused the injuries was ‘just nonsense’. He stated Blain had hurt the baby before realising she was in a ‘lot of trouble’.
Blain denied this adding: ‘In my eyes, (the other child) did not kill Thea. What happened to Thea was a tragic accident.
‘The only thing to blame was me being asleep and that is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life.’
Sentencing was deferred on Blain - who had a minor previous assault conviction - for reports.
After the verdict, Lord Scott told jurors that the trial was a ‘thankfully unusual case involving the murder of a baby’.