A FATHER appeared in court yesterday charged with the murder of his three-month-old baby daughter.

Tyler Alice Polley died after she was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital suffering from head injuries, following an incident at her home in Alnwick Road, Farringdon, in November.

She was transferred to Newcastle General Hospital's intensive care unit, but died after her life support machine was switched off.

Her father, Gary Polley, 35, denied murder. He was remanded in custody for his trial on June 25.

Polley was arrested when Sunderland West CID launched a murder investigation after a post mortem examination by Home Office pathologist James Sunter.

Mr Polley had lived with his common-law wife and one other 18-month-old child for less than a year.