A Scottish mother who flew into a rage during her gender reveal party after discovering she was having a girl has been convicted of murdering her newborn daughter. Nicole Blain, 30, was found guilty of killing 19-day-old Thea Jane Wilson at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday, April 29.
Gender Reveal Rage Foreshadowed Tragedy
Footage from February 2023 showed Blain visibly upset at her gender reveal party. In the clip, she holds a pink knife and shouts at a loved one holding a black balloon filled with confetti. Upon popping the balloon and seeing pink confetti, she storms off and makes an obscene gesture at the camera.
This fury tragically echoed after Thea was born. On July 14, 2023, Blain attacked her daughter inside her Greenock flat, inflicting injuries so severe they were compared to those of a car crash victim.
Horrific Injuries
Thea suffered multiple skull fractures, catastrophic brain damage, and rib and neck trauma. Pathologist Leighanne Deboys testified that the injuries were consistent with violent shaking and repeated impact with a hard surface, such as a floor, wall, or furniture. Another medic likened the injuries to those seen in car crash victims.
Attempts to Cover Up
Blain initially claimed she woke from a nap to find Thea on the floor. She later blamed another child in the flat, but a pathologist ruled out accidental injury from a child. Thea was described as a "perfect" baby, born on June 25, 2023.
On the day of the killing, Blain was supposed to take Thea to her paternal grandmother, Laura Wilson, in Ayrshire. Instead, at around 2 p.m., Laura's husband Alan received a panicked call from Blain. He testified: "I could hear screaming. I had never heard anything like it. It was piercing and extremely loud." Blain mumbled, "I do not know what to do," and was told to call an ambulance.
Laura Wilson also spoke with Blain, who claimed she found Thea on the floor with a bump on her head and no clothes. Blain again blamed another child at the flat.
Conviction and Sentencing
Blain cried hysterically as she was led handcuffed to the cells. Sentencing was deferred for reports. Lord Scott told jurors this was a "thankfully unusual case involving the murder of a baby." Blain had a minor previous assault conviction.
In June 2024, Blain was hounded out of her home in Renfrewshire by an irate mob after allegations of harming her daughter emerged. Police escorted her from the property.
