A young mother sobbed in court as she told a murder trial how her five-month-old daughter died in her arms.

Nichola Haddock was giving evidence at the trial of Craig Jamieson, her former partner. Jamieson was looking after the couple's daughter, Abbie, while Ms Haddock went to a university lecture.

Ms Haddock told the High Court in Glasgow that she was called to the couple's home in Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, by Jamieson. He said their daughter was unwell.

Miss Haddock said that, when she arrived home: "Abbie was lying in her chair with a nappy on. She was pale, very pale. She was staring into space. I called her and she wasn't responding - she was floppy. No life in her.

"When I lifted her I just screamed and Craig phoned an ambulance. I was screaming so much he told me to be quiet - he couldn't hear what the operator was saying."

Jamieson, 30, of Drumchapel, Glasgow, denies murdering the girl and has lodged a special defence of incrimination against Ms Haddock, 29.

The court heard that Abbie was taken by ambulance to Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow and hooked up to machines in the intensive care unit.

Ms Haddock said medical staff told her that Abbie would not survive. She said: "I was talking to her and singing to her and praying over her. They came in and were turning machines and things off. They brought a chair in and sat me down and placed Abbie in my arms.

"I was told later she had died in my arms."

When asked by prosecutor Lesley Shand, QC, if she had asked Jamieson what had happened, she replied: "Yes. I asked him if he had dropped her or she had fallen and he said 'no'."

Ms Haddock was then asked if she had ever punched, kicked or hit her daughter and replied: "No." Ms Shand then asked; "Did you ever throw her against a hard surface?" Ms Haddock said: "No. I loved my daughter. I loved her with every piece of me. No, never."

Under cross-examination by defence QC, Ronnie Watson, Ms Haddock admitted that two days before Abbie died she had sent Jamieson, who was out with friends, a text message saying: "Abbs hasn't stopped screaming and it's doing my head in." She also admitted she was an overprotective mother.

Jamieson is accused of murdering Abbie on February 8, 2008, by inflicting blunt force trauma to her head and body by means unknown to the prosecutor. He is also charged with assaulting Abbie to her severe injury on January 6, 2008 at their flat in Dumbarton Road, Glasgow. He denies both charges.

The trial, before temporary judge Alastair Stewart, continues.