Southampton baby murder trial: Teen dad 'took MDMA' before death

A teenager accused of murdering his infant son has told a court he took MDMA and drank vodka and lager shortly before the boy's death.

The seven-week-old was bitten on the nose and violently shaken or swung in the attack in Southampton in February, jurors have heard.

The 17-year-old, who denies murder, also told Winchester Crown Court he performed CPR to try to save the boy.

The baby's 19-year-old mother denies a charge of child cruelty.

Neither defendant can be named for legal reasons.

The father, who said he suffers from memory problems, told the jury he could not recall returning home after consuming the drink and drugs at a neighbour's flat.

He said he remembered seeing his former partner "in a bad state" with the baby in her arms in the early hours of 11 February.

The defendant said: "She was crying, panicking, shaking. She got up and said he wasn't breathing.

"He was grey and white, she passed him to me, he wasn't moving, he was literally stone cold."

The father, who was aged 16 at the time, said the mother told him the baby had fallen off the sofa on to the hard floor.

He said he "hugged and squeezed" the baby before performing CPR as instructed by an ambulance worker over the phone.

The defendant said he did not remember saying to a neighbour, "What have I done?", after his son was taken to hospital with a fatal skull fracture.

Prosecutors have alleged the father had also broken the baby's ribs, leg and collarbone in the days leading up to the death.

The mother, who was then aged 18, is accused of cruelty by failing to protect the boy or to summon help quickly following the fatal attack.

The trial continues.