Father suffocated three-year-old

Amelia died two days before her fourth birthday

A father suffocated his three-year-old daughter with medical chloroform in revenge for his wife's affair, a court has been told.

Hospital radiographer Gavin Hall, 33, killed daughter Amelia as her mother and younger sister slept upstairs in their Northamptonshire home.

He denies murder but admits a lesser charge of manslaughter, on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Mr Hall, of Grey Street, Irchester, appeared at Northampton Crown Court.

The court heard that on 29 November last year Amelia was fed anti-depressant pills to make her drowsy.

'Anger and bitterness'

Mr Hall sat and cuddled his daughter for over an hour before smothering her with a rag soaked with the anaesthetic chemical medical chloroform.

She died just two days before her fourth birthday.

Mother Joanne found Amelia, known as Millie, under a duvet on the living room floor the following morning.

Mr Hall had tried to kill himself with chloroform and had open cuts in his neck, thighs and arms.

William Coker QC, prosecuting, told the jury Mr Hall had discovered in the months before the killing that his wife was having an affair with a man she had met through an advert on the internet.

"His anger and bitterness, his desire to punish Joanne are obvious," said Mr Coker.

'Dealt with deceit'

In text messages sent to his wife and her lover - identified in court only as "James" - Hall tried to explain the death and why he had tried to kill himself.

One text, sent to Joanne Hall at 0257 GMT said: "I loved you. Millie asked to stay with me. I've dealt with your deceit for two months, now you have the rest of your life to deal with the consequences."

In letters found after Millie's death, the jury heard, Mr Hall explained to his younger daughter: "Sorry to take your big sister with me. Millie always loved you too and looked out for you.

"I couldn't take you from your mum, she needs you now and you need her in the same way that I have Millie and Millie needs me."

The trial continues.