Ashley McGregor standing trial for manslaughter of three-week-old son Alvin has his police interview played in Adelaide court

A father who allegedly left his baby to suffer for close to two days before his death had his police interview played to the court, telling them he knocked over the bassinet.

A father who allegedly left his baby to suffer for close to two days before his death has had his police interview played to the court claiming he has “nothing to hide.”

Ashley John McGregor, 34, is standing trial this week after allegedly suggesting to his partner to blow bong smoke in the boy’s face rather than seek medical attention.

Prosecutor Michael Foundas told the District Court in his opening that Mr McGregor had been in a relationship with Rebecca Denton who gave birth to Alvin on April 4, 2021.

He was left to take care of Alvin on April 21, 2021 while Denton was out shopping.

The court heard Denton received a panicked call from Mr McGregor that afternoon who told her he had accidentally knocked over the bassinet, which Alvin was in.

Ashley John McGregor is standing trial for manslaughter. Photo: File

Rebecca Denton was sentenced last year for criminal neglect. Photographer NCA NewsWire/Emma Brasier

The court heard Alvin’s condition deteriorated over the next 40 hours, to the point where he was no longer feeding properly.

On the morning of April 23, 2021, Alvin was rushed to Noarlunga Hospital “completely unresponsive”.

An autopsy revealed Alvin’s cause of death was a blunt force head injury, with a number of other significant injuries, including rib fractures, bruising and bleeding on the brain.

“They revealed that these injuries were not the result of some accident or other innocent explanation,” Mr Foundas said.

“The prosecution allege Alvin has been held tightly around the chest and forcefully thrust about at least once but more likely more than that.

“And in the course of that event his head has struck a solid object.”

Mr McGregor has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and criminal neglect.

Denton – who pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal neglect over her role in not seeking medical attention for Alvin – was sentenced to over four years jail last year.

However, she was ordered to serve the sentence on home detention.

Mr McGregor’s police interview was played to the court on Friday, telling officers he tripped over the family dog on April 21, 2021 and they both knocked over the bassinet, which Alvin was in.

He said the music box which was hanging in the bassinet hit Alvin as a result and he was bleeding at the top lip.

Mr McGregor told the officers Alvin screamed and cried hysterically at the start but then seemed fine after that.

“I’ve got nothing to hide, I want to know what happened to him,” Mr McGregor said.

“Maybe we should have taken him to hospital … we should have just been more cautious.

“We’ve got four kids, you pretty well know the signs of what’s wrong.”

Mr McGregor said he bought Alvin some children’s Panadol to help with any pain but said he otherwise wasn’t concerned by his feeding or sleeping.

“It’s like it never happened, he was his himself – he’s back to quiet and normal,” he said.

“I’m a stress-head when it comes to babies,” he said.

The judge-alone trial continues.

Originally published as Ashley McGregor standing trial for manslaughter of three-week-old son Alvin has his police interview played in Adelaide court