Dad accused of murdering his baby 'was too busy on Call of Duty to see she was injured'

Baby Willow Lee. See SWNS story SWLEmurder; A dad has this morning (Tues) been charged with murdering his four-month-old daughter Jordan Lee, 28, is accused of killing Willow Lee after she was found seriously injured at a house in Blackpool, Lancs., on December 3. She was rushed Blackpool Victoria Hospital and later transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. She tragically died there on December 6. A post-mortem examination has been carried out but further expert analysis is need to establish a cause of death. Willow’s dad Jordan Lee, of Blackpool, was initially charged with attempted murder. However, following her death and after consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service he has today been charged with her murder. Lee will appear before Preston Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Dec 16).  Lancashire Constabulary have released a photo of Willow.
Willow Lee was found seriously injured at a house in Blackpool, Lancashire, on 3 December, 2020. (SWNS)

A father accused of murdering his baby had told a court he didn't notice she was in trouble because he was too busy playing Call of Duty.

Jordan Lee, 28, is accused of inflicting a traumatic brain injury on four-month-old Willow Lee moments after neighbours heard him shouting at her.

Preston Crown Court heard that on the day of the alleged assault in December, Lee's brother sent a message to Willow's mother saying he was "not fit to be a father".

But Lee has told a jury that the infant rolled off the sofa onto a carpeted floor and hit her head on a glass bottle or remote control.

He said he was "focused a bit too much" on the game of Call of Duty he was playing on his Xbox and became "too intense" even though he should have been looking after his baby.

A general view of Preston Crown Court, Preston.
Jordan Lee is standing trial for the murder of four-month-old Willow Lee at Preston Crown Court. (PA)

Giving evidence at his trial, Lee said that on the day of the alleged assault, Willow was alternating between being "mardy and crying" and "back to her smiles".

His brother Daniel, who lived with the family in Blackpool, Lancashire, has claimed that he tried to help him with the baby that day, but his brother was angry.

The court heard that he sent a message to Willow's mother saying Lee was "not fit" to be a father and had held the infant up by her ankle at one point.

Jurors were told that at 5pm that day, his brother could hear Lee shouting words to the effect of “will you shut up?”

When he offered to take Willow off his brother so he could calm down he replied: "If I can't stop her from crying what are you going to do about it?"

He continued to hear him shouting downstairs, the court has heard, and went on to record a series of Snapchat recordings in which a baby can be heard crying.

Asked by his defence lawyer Nick Johnson QC when he realised something was wrong with his daughter, Lee said: "When I heard a loud thud, I looked to my left hand side and Willow was face down on the carpet on her left side."

He said he immediately grabbed her, picked her up by her armpits, but was not supporting her head, adding: "I felt shocked and scared - I didn't know what to do."

The court heard Lee ran up to his brother with Willow in his hands, unresponsive and her head was floppy.

She was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital and later transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital where she died three days later.

Lee's lawyer asked him: "Have you ever said anything harsh to Willow?", to which he replied: "I possibly could have said 'shut up Willow'."

The court heard that in his police interview he said: "I think I had focused a bit too much on the game than my child, to be honest.

"I put too much time into it and I should have looking after Willow more, that should have been my priority... I got too intense."

Lee, of Onslow Road, Blackpool, denies murder. The trial continues.

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