Infant murder trial: jurors told baby nicknamed Bungee due to '˜unusual' birth

Baby Jake Long, who died aged 19 days old on December 19, 2014.

Nicola Brown nee Long, 43, is accused of murder and two charges of causing grievous bodily harm to baby Jake Long, who was born on December 1, 2014.

The trial at Winchester Crown Court heard that she had previously broken the boy’s ribs on two previous occasions in his short life. He died of a severe head injury, the court has heard.

Her husband, Jake’s father, Jason Brown, is accused of causing or allowing the death of a child.

Nicola Brown, 43, on trial at Winchester Crown Court

The fatal incident happened while Mrs Brown was looking after the young baby at their home in Agincourt Road, Buckland, Portsmouth, on December, 19, 2014, while Mr Brown, 44, was at work as a fork lift driver on a building site.

The jury has been told that Mrs Brown had not informed her doctor that she was pregnant prior to Jake’s birth and she had not undergone a pregnancy scan or arranged for a midwife.

Nigel Lickley QC, prosecuting, said: ‘Jake was born in unusual circumstances at home. He arrived into this world by falling into and being caught by the pyjamas or tracksuit bottoms of Nicola Brown.

‘The paramedics were there, the pregnancy was unknown to medical professionals.’

Jason Brown, 44, on trial at Winchester Crown Coutr

Mr Brown’s boss, William Birch, said in a statement read to the court that Mr Brown had asked his wife to see a doctor.

Mr Birch said: ‘He said she was getting fat and sent her to the doctor’s and she didn’t know she was pregnant.’

Mr Birch also said that Jake had been given the nickname of Bungee because when he was born the ‘cord was still attached and was bouncing around like it was on a bungee.’

He said that on the day of Jake’s death, Mr Brown had received a call from his wife saying the baby was unwell and he went to join her.

Mr Birch said he later received a phone call from Mr Brown who was crying as he told him that ‘he was in the hospital, the baby went for a scan and they were talking of turning the life support system off.’

The jury was also shown Jake’s Moses basket which the court has heard that Mrs Brown claims the baby fell out of on the day before his death but had not sought medical help that day because he had not seemed unwell or distressed.

The defendants, who married after their son’s death, and both now of Seymour Close, deny the charges.

Proceeding