A FATHER accused of murdering his five-year-old daughter called his former partner to say she had “10 seconds to say goodbye” to her children before he drove them into an icy Worcestershire river, a court was told.

It is alleged Chris Grady drove into the river Avon in Evesham after making a “deliberate decision” to kill himself and his children.

Five-year-old Gabby Grady was trapped in the car for two hours on Thursday, February 11, last year, before being pronounced dead at hospital three days later.

Ryan Grady, now seven, was rescued by police officers who dived in to save him.

Graham Reeds, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, said Grady, aged 42, phoned estranged partner Kim Smith minutes before heading towards the river and said: “Be outside your house, you’ve got 10 seconds to say goodbye to your kids, and then they are dead.”

Mr Reeds said Grady arrived a minute late at Abbots Walk, Evesham, the home of Kim Smith, where Jane Smith, her sister-in-law, overheard him shout: “This is the last time you are going to see them, they are going to die.”

She also remembered hearing him say “river” before Miss Smith desperately tried to grab the car door as he accelerated away. Mr Reeds said witnesses saw Grady driving fast along Boat Lane, Evesham, with the children in the back who could be heard “screaming and wailing”.

It is alleged Grady drove into a field at the end of the lane and then drove fast up the field to a distance of about 250 yards away from the river.

Mr Reeds said: “He then turned the car around to face the river and started to drive towards it.”

One witness, Nicholas Langstone, said Grady “floored” the accelerator pedal and changed through the gears as he approached the river.

Mr Reeds said the car hit the water nose first about 25 feet from the bank – neither child had learned to swim.

Grady managed to get himself and Ryan out as the car sank, leaving Gabby trapped inside.

Police officer Inspector Sean Kent jumped into the water and saved Ryan by grabbing his waistband and hauling him to the bank.

Grady was also hauled from the river by police and firefighters before allegedly telling a paramedic: “I’vekilled my kids, what have I done, I want to die.”

He was arrested at the scene. Mr Reeds said a number of “suicide” notes were later found in the footwell of the car.

One addressed to “Kim” said: “You led me to this, my kids are with me now.”

The court was told how Grady and Miss Smith separated in 2009 after a seven- year relationship. Grady had become homeless after getting into rent arrears and had to take Ryan and Gabby to his ex-wife Suzanne Grady’s home when he saw them on Wednesdays and weekends.

Grady, of no fixed address, denies murder and attempted murder.

The trial continues.

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