A MAN accused of killing a baby girl has denied causing the injuries that led to her death as he gave evidence at the trial for her murder.

Brandon Mark Heath of Northwich, began giving evidence at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, February 23, but it continued throughout the whole of the following day.

The 22-year-old is adamant he did nothing that would have resulted in the 22-month old baby suffering horrific brain injuries.

However, during the course of him giving his evidence, he was unable to account for around 12 or 13 minutes of time after he had been left with the girl and her older brother as their mother had gone to drop a friend off at work.

Defending barrister Julia Smart QC told the court how data showed the mother's phone connected to her car's bluetooth at 9.14am.

By 9.41am Heath was making a desperate call to the North West Ambulance Service as the baby girl was having difficulty breathing.

"I got up just as the front door was closing," Heath said.

"The baby was in her highchair crying.

"I can't remember if I took her out straight away or went outside for a fag first.

"It was Sunday morning, I was tired.

"After I took her out, I lay her on the rug in the living room and she just lay there, looking like she wanted to fall back asleep.

"I went upstairs to get her a nappy and some babywipes and came back down to change her."

Realising he had not brought some clothes down with him, he picked up the baby and took her upstairs to change her nappy.

"As I tried to stand her up to get her pull up nappy on, she just flopped down on to her bum.

"When she did it a second time, I thought I'd best ring her mum."

However, as he tried to make that call, his phone battery died, so he went to grab a charger from the other bedroom and returned to plug it in, and within little more than a minute it flickered into life.

"She started to breathe bubbly in her throat," he added.

"I didn't have a clue what was on.

"It was then that I changed my mind and decided to call 999."

Within minutes an ambulance crew had arrived at the home and began to provide medical care to the baby, while Heath admits he told them conflicting information because he was panicking and trying to think of things that 'might have happened'.

Northwich Guardian:

Brandon Heath arriving at Chester courts charge with murder (Andrew Price/View Finder Pictures)

Under cross-examination from prosecuting barrister Andrew O’Byrne asked Heath what had happened in the almost 13 minutes or so he was unable to account for during the time he had been left to look after the children.

"There seems to be quite a lot of time unaccounted for," he asked.

"What I want to suggest to you is that the reason you can't is because you had caused the injuries."

Heath replied: "You're wrong, that's not true.

"Maybe I must have just misjudged my timings."

The trial continues.