"I'm going to murder you in the bath" - court hears threat to child (From Daily Echo)

Woman denies physically and verbally abusing child

2:27pm Friday 26th October 2012 in News

“NO ONE wants you. I’m going to murder you in the bath.”

Those are the words a Hampshire woman is alleged to have said to a child before it was claimed she dunked the youngster’s head underwater, a court heard.

During police interviews made in February of this year Christine Morgan denied physically and verbally abusing the child.

Morgan, of the Tyleshades, Romsey, is accused of repeatedly threatening to kill the youngster, hitting her in the face and grabbing her by the throat as part of a campaign of abuse said to have lasted more than a decade.

The alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said Morgan had subjected her to abuse, including a sexual assault when the girl was nine or ten.

But at Southampton Crown Court 61-year-old Morgan refuted the allegations saying “what a lot of rot”.

Asked if she would have strangled the child she refuted the suggestion but, during the course of police interviews, said: “I would strangle her now.”

When asked if Morgan was going to, she said: “No I’m not.

I’m bloody well angry, wouldn’t you be if you were in my shoes?

Yes you would.”

Previously the court was told that the years of hurt began when the child was four years old.

In another incident when the child was only 13 months old Morgan went to kiss her but was spat in the face.

“She spat at me and I thought I would never attempt to do that again,” Morgan said.

The alleged victim, who is now an adult, said she suffered years of neglect.

Morgan denies one count of indecently assault assaulting a child under-13 and two charges of cruelty to a child under 16.

The trial continues.