Killer mother's 'magic wand' plea

Naomi wore callipers after being diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy

The trial of a woman who drowned her disabled four-year-old daughter has heard how she was drunk when she took her dead child to hospital.

Joanne Hill, 32, from Connahs Quay, Flintshire, asked Countess of Chester Hospital staff if they had a "magic wand" to make Naomi better.

Mrs Hill admits killing her daughter last November, but denies murder due to diminished responsibility.

Prosecutors say she was not mentally ill at the time the girl died.

After killing Naomi, who had mild cerebral palsy that affected her walking, prosecutors say Mrs Hill dressed the little girl and put her in her car, taking a bottle of wine with her.

Eight hours later Mrs Hill carried Naomi into the Chester hospital saying: "Will somebody help me, I think she's dead?"

I asked her if she wanted us to phone someone for her... she told us there was nobody for us to phone Helen Stroyd, clinical co-ordinator

Hospital staff told jurors they noticed that Mrs Hill was drunk and appeared distant and calm as doctors tried to resuscitate her daughter.

Nurse Jennifer Moore told the court how she later found Mrs Hill in reception sitting on the floor.

"We picked her up and took her to the relatives' room and asked her what happened.

"She said 'Nothing, I don't know' in a giggle . Almost, you know, when somebody has had a few drinks and they are giggly like that," said Ms Moore.
Clinical co-ordinator Helen Stroyd told how the mother had asked if hospital staff "could wave a magic wand and make Naomi better".

Joanne Hill could not come to terms with Naomi's disability, the court heard

When asked what had happened , the mother told Ms Stroyd she did not know and that she had got to hospital by taxi.

Ms Stroyd also said that when a consultant paediatrician told Mrs Hill that her daughter had died, "there was disbelief in her face".

"I asked her if she wanted us to phone someone for her. She told us there was nobody for us to phone," said Ms Stroyd.

Pc Andrea Ellis of Cheshire Police told the trial that when she was arresting Mrs Hill, she told her: "My daughter is dead and you're arresting me? I want to see her and give her a hug and a kiss."

'Waiting in heaven'

Mrs Hill was later allowed to see her daughter's body at the hospital. Pc Ellis described how she looked at the girl's hospital gown and started to cry.

The mother then looked at numbers printed on the gown and told the officer Naomi had been learning numbers at school.

Mrs Hill then said: "Grandma will be waiting in heaven with her arms open," the court heard.

Custody sergeant Charles Taylor noted Mrs Hill's behaviour as "bizarre" and considered she was at risk of self-harm.

He told the jury he put her cell under constant supervision after she informed him she had a history of depression and contemplating suicide.

He said: "I felt as if she understood everything. As I was questioning her she started doodling on a pad - it was as if her mind went off on a tangent.

"She was acting strangely. It was inconsistent with what you would expect of a person in such a serious situation."

Stephen Riordan QC, defending, said to Sgt Taylor: "In other words there was more to this than just drink?"

The officer replied: "Yes."

The trial continues.