Girl, nine, accused of trying to kill baby

A NINE-YEAR-OLD girl appeared in a Scottish court in Paisley yesterday charged with the attempted murder of a nine-week-old baby by trying to suffocate her, writes James Cusick.

In a legal procedure rare under Scottish law, the girl made a three-minute private appearance in one of Paisley's main courtrooms before Sheriff George Crozier.

The nine-year-old, from one of the large council-housing estates in Paisley, was charged with committing an attack on a girl from Maitland Place, Renfrew. She was accused of placing her hand over the infant's mouth, compressing her nose to the danger of her life, and attempting to murder her.

Robert Kerr, for the defence, said after the court proceedings: 'No plea or declaration was made to the court and the girl was remanded in custody for a week for further inquiries to be carried out.'

Sheriff Crozier made an order placing the girl into the care of the local authority's social work department. It is understood that she will be held in a remand or assessment centre until her next court appearance.