Nursery worker accused of killing baby 'doesn't feel her actions to blame'

A nursery worker has told a jury she felt responsible for the death of a baby girl in her care but did not believe her actions were the cause.

Kate Roughley, 37, found nine-month-old Genevieve Meehan unresponsive and blue on the afternoon of May 9 2022 at the Tiny Toes Nursery in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport.

The prosecution allege she had placed Genevieve on her front, tightly swaddled and strapped to a beanbag for more than 90 minutes as the youngster was left “virtually immobilised” and that her cries and distress were “simply ignored”.

Giving evidence at Manchester Crown Court, Roughley said she put Genevieve on her side on the beanbag and that she had “no cause for concern” up to the point when she discovered the youngster was not breathing.

Her barrister Sarah Elliott KC said: “You have said that on May 9 you were worried that you would get the blame for Genevieve’s death?”

Roughley said: “That’s correct, yes.”

Miss Elliott said: “What responsibility do you feel in relation to what happened?”

The defendant replied: “I do feel responsible for Genevieve’s death given she was in my care that day. However, I don’t feel my actions were the cause of the death.”

Miss Elliott said: “In your mind, did you do any unlawful act that contributed to or caused her death?”

Roughley said: “No, I did nothing different on this day to any other day.”

Miss Elliott said: “Did you bear any ill-will or dislike of Genevieve … and on May 9 in particular?”

“No,” the defendant said.

Miss Elliott said: “As far as you are concerned, did you wilfully or deliberately potentially ill-treat her in any way?”

Roughley said: “No, I didn’t. I didn’t treat Genevieve any different to any other child in my care.”

Miss Elliott went on: “How do you feel about the events of that day, looking back now?”

The defendant said: “There is not a day that goes by when I don’t think about it. It’s always my first thought in the day, constantly thinking what Genevieve would be doing, what milestones she would be reaching and how her development would grow.

“My thoughts are are always with the family and what they have been through.”

Roughley, from Heaton Norris, Stockport, denies manslaughter and an alternative count of child cruelty.

The trial continues on Thursday.