THE grandfather of a baby who was allegedly killed in Ipswich was close to breaking point when he gave evidence in court against the accused murderer.Leonard Askew's one-month-old grandson Luigi Mills died as a result of injuries he suffered at Mr Askew's Lanercost Way address in Ipswich while he was away for the weekend Ipswich Crown Court heard.

THE grandfather of a baby who was allegedly killed in Ipswich was close to breaking point when he gave evidence in court against the accused murderer.

Leonard Askew's one-month-old grandson Luigi Mills died as a result of injuries he suffered at Mr Askew's Lanercost Way address in Ipswich while he was away for the weekend Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Mr Askew's daughter, Samantha Askew, 23, suffered a broken wrist, a cut and bruised face and a bruised neck and hand as a result of an assault.

Her former boyfriend, Duncan Mills, 32, of London Road, Ipswich has denied murdering his baby son and assaulting Miss Askew causing her grievous bodily harm on May 26 last year.

Mr Askew appeared in the court's witness box visibly agitated and upset and he asked Judge John Devaux when Luigi's body would be returned to the family.

He said: “I just want to say do you know when I will be getting baby Luigi back? It's been a long time. He must think I have deserted him.”

Judge Devaux said Mr Askew would be told at the end of the trial.

Giving evidence, Mr Askew told the court that when Mills heard that Miss Askew was pregnant he was “not happy” about it and did not visit her in hospital when Luigi was born despite the offer of a lift from Mr Askew.

Mr Askew said that his daughter had lived at both London Road with Mills and at Lanercost Way with him. He said she became “panicked” when she received telephone calls from Mills before Luigi was born.

He added that he knew Mills was planning to stay at his address in Lanercost Way with Miss Askew and Luigi while he was away in Pakefield between May 25 and May 28 last year.

He said he received a telephone call at about 10am on May 26 from his son-in-law's mother stating that there was police tape around his house. Mr Askew drove to Ipswich hospital where he waited all day to speak to his daughter.

She told him that two burglars had got into the house and had beaten her unconscious. The court heard that when she woke up the next morning she discovered Luigi was not breathing properly. A neighbour, paramedics and hospital staff fought to resuscitate the baby but he died of head and abdominal injuries in hospital.

The prosecution alleged that Mills assaulted Miss Askew during a heated argument and then attacked his son after becoming agitated by his crying.

The trial continues on Monday.