Neighbour tells trial of consultant accused of murder how she found ‘grey’ infant

The mobile phone belonging to Clare Sanders (pictured above) had been used to search ‘Shaken baby syndrome NHS’, ‘Shaking babies’ and ‘baby is shaking’ on 27 August – six days before Eva’s death, the Old Bailey has heard

A neighbour of a finance consultant accused of murdering her baby told a court how she found the ‘grey’ four-week-old girl in her screaming mother’s arms.

Clare Sanders, 43, and Lithuanian lover Tomas Vaitkevicius, 45, allegedly shook little Eva on three separate occasions during the first weeks of her life.

Sanders’ mobile phone had been used to search ‘Shaken baby syndrome NHS’, ‘Shaking babies’ and ‘baby is shaking’ on 27 August – six days before Eva’s death, the Old Bailey has heard.

Their neighbour Karen Drewell told how she ran downstairs and saw Vaitkevicius giving Eva the ‘kiss of life’ on a bed after she was awoken by frantic Sanders.

Ms Drewell left the flat in Mitcham, south London, to call an ambulance and then returned to the bedroom to see ‘the grey baby’ in her mother’s arms.

Ms Drewell told jurors: ‘The image is in my mind forever, of that grey baby in Clare’s arms.

‘As I walked back into the bedroom Clare was holding the baby and the baby’s face was grey and she [Sanders] was screaming.

‘She had her arms around Eva’s arms and round her chest. The baby’s face was facing outwards.

‘She [Sanders] was saying to Tomas that he had killed the baby by not bringing up her milk.’

Ms Drewell and her father listened to paramedics after calling 999 and were told to use two fingers to try and revive the baby’s heart and to place her on the floor.

When paramedics arrived they took over and rushed Eva to hospital.

A health visitor had met Sanders on 14 August and they had discussed how the baby was doing.

Clare Sanders, 43, and Lithuanian lover Tomas Vaitkevicius, 45, pictured above, allegedly shook little Eva on three separate occasions during the first weeks of her life

Clare Sanders, 43, and Lithuanian lover Tomas Vaitkevicius, 45, pictured above, allegedly shook little Eva on three separate occasions during the first weeks of her life

Gemma Ally recorded that Eva was healthy, and the mother seemed content but was a little concerned about being able to breast feed her.

Ms Ally tried to comfort Sanders saying anxiety about breast feeding was common place amongst mothers.

She explained it was usual to alternate between natural and formula milk.

She commented on how the successful City worker, who had lived in her ‘spacious’ flat for several years, kept it ‘clean and tidy’ and had decorated it well with lots of home comforts.

Jurors heard before she became pregnant Sanders decided to have some work done on her property.

When builders failed to finish the job she asked handyman Vaitkevicius to complete work on the bathroom, it was said.

While he was working for her they began a relationship and Sanders became pregnant.

Jurors have heard Sanders had started drinking more heavily since meeting her Lithuanian lover and when they argued he would end up sleeping in the car outside or on a bench.

Sanders was divorcing a previous partner during the first weeks of Eva’s life and had admitted to friends she was worried about Vaitkevicius being at the birth after arguments.

Sanders and Vaitkevicius, of Mitcham, south London, deny murder and an alternative charge of causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable child. The trial at the Old Bailey, above, continues

Sanders and Vaitkevicius, of Mitcham, south London, deny murder and an alternative charge of causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable child. The trial at the Old Bailey, above, continues

Jurors have heard the couple had been drinking on the night Eva was said to have been attacked.

Sanders was hysterical screaming ‘My baby, my baby’, while Vaitkevicius tried to revive Eva by blowing into her mouth and pinching her nose, the court heard.

Eva was rushed to a hospital in south London as paramedics tried to treat her.

She was pronounced dead shortly before 7am on September 2, 2017 and a post-mortem later gave the cause of death as ‘traumatic brain and spinal cord injury.’

Tom Little, QC, prosecuting, claims Eva was subjected to a ‘brutal series of assaults’ by her parents in the first weeks of her life.

Sanders and Vaitkevicius, of Mitcham, south London, deny murder and an alternative charge of causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable child.

The trial continues.

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