Father, 30, 'murdered son and daughter to save his failing relationship', court ...

Father, 30, 'murdered son and daughter to save his failing relationship', court ...
Father, 30, 'murdered son and daughter to save his failing relationship', court ...

A father murdered his son and daughter to save his failing relationship and had a pattern of making them ill every time his partner threatened to leave, a court has been told today. 

Alleged triple killer, Jordan Monaghan, 30, is accused of smothering his daughter, Ruby, aged 24 days, on New Year's Day, 2013, eight months before also smothering his son, Logan, aged 21 months.

He also denies the murder of his new partner, Evie Adams, 23, six years later in October 2019, by giving her an overdose of tramadol and diazepam. 

The jury was told today that Monaghan would harm both Logan and Ruby when they were left in his care and when his relationship with their mother, Laura Gray, was struggling.

Duncan Smith, QC, prosecuting, said each time Laura Gray threatened to leave, Monaghan caused the children to be ill so as to create a situation where she would feel obliged to stay.

Monaghan, of Blackburn, is alleged to have smothered Ruby in 2013 before murdering Logan (both pictured) eight months later. Monaghan denies the two counts of murder and is on trial

Monaghan, of Blackburn, is alleged to have smothered Ruby in 2013 before murdering Logan (both pictured) eight months later. Monaghan denies the two counts of murder and is on trial

Questioning Monaghan during the trial at Preston Crown Court, Mr Smith said: 'Your relationship with Laura Gray was important to you.

Monaghan replied: 'Yes, to some extent. Not more important than my children.'

Mr Smith said instances where Monaghan called 111 to say Logan had swallowed paracetamol or, on a separate occasion, that Ruby was struggling to breathe were orchestrated to save his relationship.

Mr Smith said: 'Logan's sudden illness meant your relationship would continue.

'Once more what had happened to Logan meant Laura Gray stayed in a relationship with you. You created a situation to keep you together.'

The court also heard that Ruby collapsed on December 29 when she was struggling to breathe and the paramedics were contacted.

Mr Smith said: 'On your account those changes in Ruby came out of nowhere.

'They came about because you had restricted her ability to breathe, Mr Monaghan. How did you restrict her ability to breathe?'

Accused Jordan Monaghan pictured with Laura Gray - the mother of Ruby and Logan - in 2013

Accused Jordan Monaghan pictured with Laura Gray - the mother of Ruby and Logan - in 2013

Monaghan denied harming Rugby.

Mr Smith said Mr Monaghan was 'remarkably' calm during all the calls to the medical services.

Mr Monaghan replied: 'I was normal, yes. I was worried but normal.'

Mr Smith added: 'Were you normal because what had happened was neither a shock nor a surprise?'

Mr Smith then told the jury that when Ruby died on New Year's Day 2013, Monaghan had been alone with his three-week-old daughter for more than an hour.

He said: 'You killed her by restricting her breathing, haven't you?'

Ruby died at home on New Year's Day in 2013, and her brother Logan died eight months later on August 17.

The court had previously heard that Miss Gray found her son Logan dead in his buggy after Monaghan had taken him swimming.

Jordan Monaghan, 30, denies three counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of cruelty to a child and is standing trial at Preston Crown Court (pictured)

Jordan Monaghan, 30, denies three counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and two

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