Elsie Scully-Hicks: Home 'filled with love and happiness', court told

The husband of a fitness instructor accused of murdering their adopted daughter has told a jury their home was 'filled with love and happiness'.

Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, is accused of inflicting a catalogue of serious injuries on Elsie Scully-Hicks, 18 months, before her death in May 2016.

Elsie was removed from her natural mother within days of her birth in November 2014 and went to live with the couple in September 2015. She was formally adopted by them just two weeks before her death.

Scully-Hicks denies murdering Elsie at the couple's four-bedroom home in Llandaff, Cardiff, on May 29.

Craig Scully-Hicks told a jury at Cardiff Crown Court he had 'never' seen him physically punish Elsie.

Craig Scully-Hicks said he had never heard his husband shout at Elsie and her adopted sibling.

Wales Ambulance Service received a 999 call from Scully-Hicks at about 6.20pm on May 25, reporting that Elsie was unresponsive.

Paramedics found Elsie was not breathing, with no signs of cardiac output, and took her to the University Hospital of Wales.

She died there in the early hours of May 29.

Prosecutors allege Scully-Hicks had 'assaulted, abused and ultimately murdered' Elsie.

Medical tests at the hospital found Elsie had suffered bilateral subdural haemorrhages - bleeding on both sides of her brain.

There was evidence of both recent and older bleeding in her brain. Haemorrhages were also found in front of both of Elsie's eyes.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Elsie had also suffered several broken ribs, a fractured left femur and a fractured skull.

The court heard that police found messages from Scully-Hicks allegedly suggesting he was 'struggling to cope' with caring for Elsie and her adopted sibling.

In one, sent 11 days after Elsie had been placed with the family, he wrote that she was 'having a proper diva strop'.

In another, he described Elsie as 'a psycho' and referred to her as 'Satan dressed up in a Babygro' to his husband.

Mr Scully-Hicks told the court that Elsie had a 'loud and bouncy' personality when she arrived at the couple's home.

He described the property as 'clean and organised' and said Elsie went to both of her fathers for 'comfort and reassurance'.

Jurors were told how the couple had to go through sessions, courses and meetings before adopting Elsie and her adopted sibling.

He said this was not 'in line' with the couple's routine and they wanted her to sleep through the night.

Scully-Hicks, who has no criminal convictions, met his husband while living in Swindon, Wiltshire, in about 2006.

The couple relocated to Cardiff in 2010 or 2011, married in Portugal in August 2012 and applied to become adopters later that year.

It was agreed that the defendant would give up full-time work to care for any child, with his husband continuing his job.

The court heard Craig Scully-Hicks spent two to three days a week working away from home.