Witness saw murder accused hit a child

A FORMER girlfriend of an accused baby murderer has told a court that she saw him abuse a small child.

Michelle Hurd told Ipswich Crown Court Duncan Mills smacked the child so hard for crying on his first birthday that he fell to the floor.

She said: “He smacked him and knocked his legs from under him. Then he picked him by his arm and threw him on the chair.”

Ms Hurd said Mills, 32, of London Road, Ipswich, swore at the child and told him to “shut up”.

She added that the child's lip quivered but he stopped crying.

She said: “I knew it was wrong and I looked at Duncan but I knew I could not say anything.”

She added she was “scared” of what he would say and do to her if she protested.

Ms Hurd said she was unknowingly in a relationship with Mills at the same time as he was seeing Samantha Askew, the mother of baby Luigi Mills who died from injuries allegedly caused by Mills.

She described Mills as “controlling” and “aggressive” and said she was led to believe that Miss Askew was Mills' ex-girlfriend who he visited from time to time to collect things he left at her address in Lanercost Way.

Despite Mills telling Ms Hurd that he was single when they met, she told the court that when she checked his mobile phone, there was a message saying “that cuddle we had the other night was really nice”.

When she telephoned the number Miss Askew answered, jurors were told.

Ms Hurd said: “I said are you seeing Duncan? And she said 'it's none of your business'.

She said when Mills found out that she had looked at his phone and confronted Miss Askew, he threatened to kill her.

Mills has denied murdering his one-month-old son Luigi Mills on May 26 last year and assaulting 23-year-old Miss Askew causing her grievous bodily harm at Lanercost Way on the same date.

Mills is alleged to have assaulted Miss Askew following a heated row and then attacked his son because he was crying. Mills claimed Miss Askew fell on the baby and injured him during a row.

The trial continues.