Mother 'drank a bottle of wine before taking daughter she drowned in the bath to hospital'

A jury at Chester Crown Court has been told Joanne Hill, 32 - accused of murdering her daughter Naomi last November - was calm when she arrived at the Countess of Chester Hospital with her dead daughter in her arms.

Prosecutors claim the mother from north Wales, hatched a plan to kill the youngster when her husband refused to allow her to put Naomi up for adoption because she could not cope with her daughter's cerebral palsy.

Accused: Joanne Hill denies murdering drowning her disabled daughter Naomi

Giving evidence today, hospital staff told jurors how they noticed that Hill was drunk and appeared distant and calm as doctors desperately tried to resuscitate the young girl.

Nurse Jennifer Moore said: 'I heard the receptionist shout for help and when I entered the room I saw Hill standing there.

'She said, 'I think my child is dead', quite calmly.'

Ms Moore said Hill looked to a pile of clothing on the floor which turned out to be Naomi's body.

She described the child's skin as dark blue and mottled and said she was very stiff. Naomi was rushed to resuscitation.

Hospital staff say Hill arrived 'calmly' at the Countess of Chester Hospital with her dead daughter in her arms

Ms Moore said of Hill: 'I was quite surprised really. I would expect her to have been hysterical and distressed, but she wasn't. She was calm really.

'She never followed Naomi into resuscitation so I went back to reception where she was sitting on the floor.

'We picked her up and took her to the relatives' room and asked her what happened.

'She said, 'nothing, I don't know', in a giggle. Almost, you know when somebody has had a few drinks and they are giggly like that.'

Helen Stroyd, a clinical coordinator who sat with Hill in the relatives' room said the mother had asked if the hospital staff 'could wave a magic wand and make Naomi better'.

Ms Stroyd said: 'I asked her what had happened and how she got to hospital. She said she didn't know what happened and she got here by taxi.

Police at the scene of Joanne Hill's house in north Wales, where Naomi died

'She appeared vacant, as if she was not listening to what I was asking.'

Consultant paediatrician Doctor Noel Murphy was called to assist the resuscitation of Naomi but was unable to find any vital signs.

He saw that rigor mortis had set in in her upper limbs and the child was pronounced dead 15 minutes after their arrival.

Ms Stroyd said: 'Doctor Murphy came in and informed Mrs Hill that Naomi had died.

'There was disbelief in her face. She put her face in her hands and then appeared to be crying, tearful.

'I asked her if she wanted us to phone someone for her.

'She told us there was nobody for us to phone.'

Hill's husband and Naomi's father, Simon, is expected to give evidence later in the trial.

Naomi, who was 'doted on' by her father, had mild cerebral palsy and hearing difficulties.

The trial continues.