THE mum of a Cwmbran baby allegedly murdered by her grandfather today told his trial she would never hurt any of her children.

Giving evidence in her father Mark Jones’ trial, Sarah Jones said the first time she had ever been in custody was when she was arrested suspicion of murdering baby Amelia Rose Jones.

She told the jury she was “in shock. I didn't know what was going on. All I could think was I had lost Amelia that day.”

Miss Jones was released without charge. Her father Mark, 45, of no fixed abode, is now on trial at Newport Crown Court for allegedly killing baby Amelia while he was babysitting her.

Amelia, of Waun Hywel Road in Pontnewydd, died of a catastrophic brain injury on November 19 2012 and medical examination revealed she had fractured legs, ribs and skull.

The defendant denies murder and the court heard he is expected to claim he accidentally dropped Amelia on two consecutive evenings while he was looking after her.

Defending, Roger Thomas QC asked Miss Jones: “You had ongoing problems with [your partner], you believed your father was seriously ill. You had gone to the doctor about depression and it would seem that from about November 3 for a period of at least a week, one or more of your children was being fairly violently sick. You went without sleep for about five nights.

“Did you ever take out any of your frustration on Amelia?”

Miss Jones replied: “No.”

Mr Thomas asked: “Was there ever a time when you either pushed her or pulled her or squeezed her?”

She replied: “No - she was a five-week-old baby. I had a very strong support network if I needed help. My grandparents were just down the road. My mum was also close by. I even had a friend who regularly offered to take the children off my hands if I needed a break. I know how to be a mum.”

Miss Jones added that her father did not like other family members to be around, telling the jury: “He tried to push them all away so I just depended on him.”

She said although she was no longer with Amelia’s father Ian Skillern at the time she gave birth, the baby had been planned. “I felt anxious and excited at the same time,” she said. “Our relationship didn’t remain, but Amelia was always wanted. I couldn’t wait for to have the pregnancy over so I could meet her.”

Roger Thomas QC, defending, said Miss Jones could be mistaken about returning from shopping in Asda earlier in the month to find Amelia distressed in the car park, where Mark Jones was looking after her.

He said to her: “I make no bones about it, I'm suggesting you are not being entirely fair and truthful in your recollection.”

There was no mention of money being spent at Asda in bank statements on the day she claimed to be there, he said, and added: "The reason there isn't anything there is because it didn't happen that day at all. Amelia was in the house with Mark.”

He asked why she had not told police about this earlier if it had been memorable. Miss Jones replied: "I had just lost my daughter. I had been arrested for her murder. I wasn't in a position to remember everything.”

Amelia’s aunt Danielle Bonner gave evidence today, saying she had just sat down at the cinema with her half sister Sarah Jones when the defendant phoned to say Amelia wasn’t breathing.

They arrived back at the house in time to see paramedics taking Amelia outside and Mark Jones crying, saying 'Why did it have to happen to me?’, Ms Bonner said.

She told the jury she comforted the defendant, saying it could have happened to anyone as she thought it was due to a chest infection Amelia was recovering from.

He never mentioned there had been an accident that night, Ms Bonner said.

She added that before leaving the house she had fed Amelia and she seemed congested but otherwise normal.

Proceeding.

The case resumes on Tuesday.