Nicole Blain, 30, lost her temper while supposedly looking after 19-day-old Thea June Wilson at her flat in Greenock, Inverclyde on July 14, 2023
A mum who blamed another child for hurting her newborn daughter has been convicted of murder.
Nicole Blain, 30, lost her temper while supposedly looking after 19-day-old Thea June Wilson at her flat in Greenock, Inverclyde on July 14, 2023.
Thea suffered a string of catastrophic injuries including three skull fractures, brain damage and bleeding behind the eyes. These were consistent with the baby being violently shaken and repeatedly hit off a hard floor, wall or furniture.
But, in a sick cover-up bid, Blain said she had woke up from a nap to find her daughter stricken on the floor – and went on to claim another child also in the flat had “done” whatever happened to Thea. The lies were branded “nonsense” by prosecutors.
A pathologist also effectively ruled out Thea could have been fatally hurt by being dropped by this youngster. Blain was found guilty today following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Lord Scott told her: “I will be passing a life sentence. I do want more information about you before deciding the length of the punishment part (minimum time Blain will spend in jail). In the meantime, you will be remanded in custody.”
Blain – who had been on bail – cried hysterically as she was led handcuffed to the cells. She will return to the dock next month. Thea was described during the trial as “perfect” when she was born on June 25, 2023.
But, after the birth, Blain claimed to be “struggling” with post-natal depression. Thea’s paternal grandmother Laura Wilson – her son Ross, 32, had been in a relationship with Blain before she fell pregnant – gave evidence.
The 59 year-old told how the last she saw the baby was on July 8, 2023. She said Thea was “fantastic” and that she had no worries about her.
On the day of the killing, there had been a plan for Blain to take the child to Mrs Wilson’s home in Ayrshire. But, it was around 2pm that afternoon, the gran’s husband Alan took a call on her mobile from Blain.
Mr Wilson, 59, told jurors: “I could hear screaming. I had never heard anything like it. It was piercing and extremely loud. I thought it was an older child doing it, but then I realised it was the baby who was screaming.
“She (Blain) did mumble ‘I do not know what to do’. She did not sound right. I said ‘hang up and phone an ambulance’.”
Mrs Wilson also spoke with the killer mum. The witness recalled: “She said she had found Thea on the floor with no clothes on and had a bump on her head.”
Mrs Wilson rushed through to the hospital in Glasgow to be there for her beloved grand-daughter. She quizzed Blain on what had happened at the flat.
Mrs Wilson: “She said that it was (another child also staying with her) who had done it.” Blain added she had woke up and found Thea out of her crib and on the floor.
Thea tragically did not recover – it was concluded the baby had suffered “significant non-accidental head trauma”. As well as the skull fractures, Thea also had injuries to her ribs consistent with her chest being pressed.
The baby’s neck was also hurt which could have been from “forceful” movement back and forwards of her head.
Pathologist Leighanne Deboys told the jury a combination of Thea being shaken and impact with a hard surface would account for these horrific injuries – described by another medic as similar to those suffered by a car crash victim.
Another witness Blain fed lies to was social worker Stacey Jones. The 35 year-old met with the mum in the hospital shortly after the attack.
Miss Jones told the trial: “She was extremely distressed. The only thing I can recall her saying was ‘I do not know how I will forgive (another child) for this’ or words to that effect.”
Blain also testified during her trial and sobbed as she claimed her daughter’s death was “a tragic accident”. She said took a nap that day with Thea asleep in her crib. Blain was awoken by a neighbour at the door – and claimed not to have initially seen the now apparently naked baby on the floor.
The killer said she did not know for definite what happened to Thea, but that “never in a million years” would she have harmed her. She also denied “throwing (the other child) under the bus” by claiming she had been responsible.
Blain went on to state to jurors: “I can remember the trauma of finding my daughter. I will never get it out of my head. My baby died in my arms.” Prosecutor Alan Cameron KC said any suggestion another child could have caused the injuries was “just nonsense”. He stated Blain had hurt the baby before realising she was in a “lot of trouble”.
Blain denied this adding: “In my eyes, (the other child) did not kill Thea. What happened to Thea was a tragic accident. The only thing to blame was me being asleep and that is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life.”
Killer Blain had featured on a “gender reveal” video posted on TikTok after falling pregnant. She is filmed while clutching a knife as a female friend holds a black balloon waiting to be pierced in what appears to be a living room.
After a brief delay, an annoyed looking Blain finally pops it sending pink-coloured confetti into the air to confirm she is having a girl. Blain then stomps off before sticking the middle finger up at one of the people recording the moment on their mobile phone.
But, in court, Blain stressed she loved Thea which she also declared in texts to the baby’s gran Laura Wilson. In separate footage in June last year, Blain was filmed being hounded out of her then home in Renfrewshire after an irate mob descended on the property.
This was just weeks after the full allegations of how she had harmed her daughter emerged. Police had to guard the house as two women – one believed to be Blain – were escorted into a van by three officers.
Sentencing was deferred on Blain – who had a minor previous assault conviction – for reports. After the verdict, Lord Scott told jurors that the trial was a “thankfully unusual case involving the murder of a baby”.
