Dead baby's father 'good parent'

A jury at the High Court saw pictures of the Younas family home

A father accused of shaking his baby daughter to death was an "affectionate and loving" parent, a court has heard.

Faisal Younas, 35, has denied murdering his daughter Alishba, eight months, in a flat in Pollokshields, Glasgow, which he shared with his wife Bano, 34.

The couple deny neglecting the child, who was born on Christmas Day 2004.

The High Court in Glasgow heard family friend Noreen Anwar, 30, from Glasgow, claim they were attentive and affectionate. The trial continues.

Mr Younas is alleged to have seized Alishba by her body on 16 September, 2005 and either shaken her or inflicted other trauma on her head and neck.

The child died in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill in Glasgow two days later.

'No difficulties'

Mr and Mrs Younas denied that between 3 August and 30 August, 2005, they wilfully ill-treated Alishba in a manner likely to cause her unnecessary suffering or injury to her health.

Mr Younas denied a separate charge of repeatedly striking a little boy on the head and body with his hand over a three-year period.

The jury saw photographs of the interior of the couple's flat which showed tins of baby food, shampoo for babies and toddlers, nappies and clothing, plus a baby chair and a slide.

Family friend Noreen Anwar, 30, who studied for a master of business administration degree at Lahore University with Mrs Younas, told how the family came to stay with her in Glasgow with their son.

Asked by Paul McBride QC, defending Mr Younas, if they were "attentive and affectionate" towards their son, Mrs Anwar replied: "Very".

Mr McBride said: "You saw no difficulties of any kind in the way they behaved towards the child?"

Mrs Anwar said: "None at all."

Mr McBride asked if they were affectionate and loving parents.

Mrs Anwar said: "Very"

Arm 'bruised'

However a neighbour of the couple later told the court that she saw the child in intensive care with her head badly swollen up.

Farzana Kausan, 32, said she dashed to the Sick Childrens' Hospital at Yorkhill after a frantic phone call from the baby's mum.

Mrs Younis said her baby Alishba was critically ill in intensive care and "wasn't going to make it".

Mrs Kausan said when she arrived at hospital she saw a sobbing Mrs Younas with Alishba, but there was no sign of her husband, Faisal.

Asked by Johanna Johnston QC, prosecuting, what had happened to Alishba she replied: "She told me Faisal had bathed the baby and that she just fell limp and he took her to the doctor's.

"She also said the baby fell off the bed two months before and the doctors hadn't treated her properly."

Asked how Alisha looked, mother of three Mrs Kausan said: "Her head was quite swollen up and there was a bit of water coming out of her eyes.

"I also saw bruising on one of her arms."

She agreed she was "shocked".

The next evening, she claimed Mrs Younas phoned her to say: "The baby's dead. The baby didn't make it. Let your mum know."

She described it as a "straight to the point" minute and a half phone call.

The trial before Lord Hardie continues.