Clydebank man accused tot's attempted murder says he wanted to take a lie detector test

A man accused of attempting to murder a nine-month-old baby girl told jurors: “I did not hit her. I'm not a monster.” William Robertson, 21, denies attempting to murder the baby, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at his flat in Jean Armour Drive, Clydebank, on September 9, last year, by fracturing her skull.

Robertson, from Clydebank, said he had offered to go on the Jeremy Kyle Show and undergo a lie detector test to prove he had not harmed the baby.

At the High Court in Glasgow he told defence QC Donald Findlay that he does not know how she came by her injuries.

The jury has heard that she had bruising to her forehead, a very large swelling to the back of her head and a fractured skull.

Robertson, who was caring for the infant, said: “I was sleeping and I was wakened up by a loud bang. I found her on the floor. She was at the back of the couch. She was face down. She was unconscious. When I lifted her up she was floppy. She wasn't moving

When asked by Mr Findlay: “How did she get on the floor,” Robertson replied: “I don't know. I wasn't awake."

The QC then said: “It might be suggested you lost your temper and injured the child,” and Robertson replied: “No. I asked for a lie detector test and for a hypnotist. I tried to get on the Jeremy Kyle Show for a lie detector test.”

Robertson told the jury that he was heartbroken when he saw the baby injured and said: “I wrapped her in a blanket and ran screaming for help. I was very scared because I thought she was dead."

The court heard that he ran the 200 yards from his home to his mother's home around 4am and an ambulance was called.

Prosecutor Greg Farrell asked why Robertson had not dialled 999 at his home and the accused replied: “I didn't have a phone that's why I went to my mum's house for help. I ran as fast as I could. I was screaming for help."

Mr Farrell said: “Your explanation could account for the injury to her forehead. You simply can't explain her skull fracture or the injury to her ear,” and Robertson replied: “No.”

The prosecutor said: “These are lies made up when you realised how badly you hurt her,” and Robertson replied: “No. I did not hurt her. I'm not a monster.

“I've went though 14 months of absolute hell. I'm fighting for my life. If I'd made up a story I'd have done better than falling off a couch."

Robertson was cleared of being unfit to care for the baby because he had taken alcohol and having cannabis in his possession. The charges were withdrawn at the end of the Crown case.

The trial before Judge Norman Ritchie continues.