A MOTHER has told in court how she was battered and beaten on a daily basis and had plastic bags put over her head by her partner who stands accused of their child's murder.

A MOTHER has told in court how she was battered and beaten on a daily basis and had plastic bags put over her head by her partner who stands accused of their child's murder.

Giving evidence at Ipswich Crown Court, Samantha Askew, 32 painted a bleak picture of her relationship with Duncan Mills who has denied murdering their one month old son Luigi Askew and also causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Miss Askew.

The baby was taken to hospital on the morning of May 26 2007. He died later from head and abdominal injuries which the jury was told were caused by an assault by Mills.

However during yesterday's hearing the jury heard how Mills said that the baby's injuries were caused when he pushed Miss Askew and she fell on to him, a claim she denied.

In the opening of the trial against Mills of London Road, Ipswich, Miss Askew said her eldest son Kwame, now 3, was scared of Mills.

However the court heard that in police interviews she said Mills' relationship with his eldest son was “brilliant” and that he loved seeing him.

Under cross examination by defence barrister Alastair Malcolm QC, Miss Askew admitted that she invited her ex-boyfriend Mills over for a meal at her father's house in Lanercost Way, Ipswich on May 25 2007.

She told the court that Mills came to her the house between 4pm and 5pm and an argument started about unhygienic furniture.

But Mr Malcolm said Mills actually arrived at midnight and became annoyed when he saw their other son, two-year-old Kwame still up.

He told the jury that Mills insulted Miss Askew's father for being unhygienic for using carpet tiles in the bathroom and suggested this made Miss Askew snap.

Miss Askew said: “He is always making remarks about how dirty my family is. I did not get angry about it. It went straight over my head.

“I took Kwame upstairs to get him out of the way. I did not want him to see the violence, he is also scared of Duncan.”

The court also heard that during police statements last year, Miss Askew said she was being punched and pushed around her father's living room at Lanercost Way, Ipswich, where Luigi was in his cot but in court said the fighting took place in the dining room.

Mr Malcolm said: “If that was not the truth, why did you put it in your witness statement?”

Miss Askew replied: “Everything is a blur when you're being battered and beaten up.”

Mr Malcolm said: “Well if everything is a blur, how can you be certain you did not fall on Luigi?”

Miss Askew replied: “Because I would have done something, I would have called the ambulance but I know that I did not.”

The case continues today.