'Baby Mikayla should have been safest in dad's arms'
Police have welcomed the conviction of Grantown man Thomas Haining who killed his three-week-old daughter.
Mikayla died at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness on Thursday June 8, 2017, having been admitted with a number of serious injuries earlier that day.
It prompted an enquiry led by Police Scotland's Major Investigations Team, resulting in Haining being charged in connection with her death.
The 21-year-old pleaded guilty to culpable homicide at the High Court yesterday.
Detective Inspector Brian Geddes said: “Haining took the life of his daughter, a beautiful baby girl, in the most horrendous of circumstances.
"At just days old, Mikayla should have been safest in the arms of her father - instead he inflicted injuries so severe that she would never recover.
“I would like to thank Mikayla’s extended family for their support throughout our investigation and I sincerely hope that the punishment handed to Haining offers them some form of closure so that they can begin to move on with their lives."
Haining will return to court next month to be sentenced.
An NSPCC Scotland spokesperson said: “This is a shocking case in which Haining inflicted appalling and fatal injuries on a defenceless baby.
“It shows how babies and young children are completely reliant on the adults who care for them. "Anyone worried about a child’s safety can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 for advice or to report concerns.”
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