Ex-soldier murdered toddler

Harry Caldwell stabbed the child repeatedly

A former soldier has been convicted of the murder of his 18-month-old stepdaughter.

Harry Caldwell showed no emotion as he was found guilty at the High Court in Paisley of killing toddler Louisa McDaid.

The 29-year-old grabbed the child by her ankles and smashed her head against a wall before repeatedly stabbing the baby with a kitchen knife.

He was jailed for life and will serve at least 20 years.

Persistent violence

Support group Families of Murdered Children expressed concern that Caldwell was on bail for a previous assault on his wife at the time of the murder.

The conditions of his bail stated that he must not return to the family home in Broomlands Street, Paisley.

His wife Laura McDaid had complained to the police that Caldwell had broken his bail conditions on 31 January when he went to the house and threatened to strangle her.

The police had not caught Caldwell when he arrived at the house again on 2 March.

The court heard that Caldwell killed his stepdaughter because his wife had taunted him about having an abortion because of his persistent violence.

Louisa McDaid was killed by her stepfather

Caldwell had denied murder but admitted the culpable homicide of the toddler by reason of diminished responsibility.

In the hours before Louisa's death he had drunk eight pints of beer.

The nightclub doorman, who spent six years in the Scots Guards, claimed he was not in a sound state of mind when Louisa died, as he was suffering from an acute personality disorder.

The jury of eight men and seven women took just over one hour to convict the accused of murder.

The judge, Lord Bracadale, said: "You have been convicted of the murder of Louisa Caldwell, a girl who always treated you as a father.

Act of violence

"It was an act which was characterised by almost unimaginable brutality."

The judge ordered the jury to acquit Caldwell of assaulting Laura, Louisa and a police officer, obstructing police and breach of bail.

The support group Families of Murdered Children - which has been helping Louisa's natural father - expressed concern that Caldwell was on bail when he carried out the attack.

The group's Billy Thomas said: "Where they have been charged with an act of violence, they should not be released on bail.

"If Harry Caldwell had not been released on bail then Louisa McDaid would still be here."