A FATHER has spoken of his trauma at being branded a 'child murderer' following the death of his baby daughter.

Nicholas Brown, 44, learned this week that a ten-month murder probe into the death of his baby daughter Nikiesha Brown has now been dropped.

The Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to proceed after a pathologist's report failed to determine a cause of death on the baby who died last July at her Duffryn, Newport, home.

Mr Brown, who is a welder, was arrested within a week of his daughter's death. For the past ten months he has been on police bail. No charges were ever brought.

He told the Argus: "I have been branded a child killer, the lowest of the low and it is a stigma I don't think I can ever shake off. There was never any evidence that I did it, but I was accused of murder. I have felt like I have had to prove my innocence of this, when it should be the other way around. A lot of people believe there is no smoke without fire but that is just not the case. It is a stigma that will stay with me."

Mr Brown said he was not allowed to attend his daughter's funeral and saw her for the last time at the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, flanked by police officers.

He added: "You bring a child into the world, and when something like this happens, as a parent, you want to lay her to rest. I was denied that chance.

"I was not able to grieve for my daughter, and will never be able to get over it."

On Tuesday the Argus reported how Nikiesha's mother Lisa Gwyer, 31, said she was still demanding answers as to how their daughter died. Mr Brown said: "It cannot just end there. As her father I want to know what happened. This has destroyed my life. For the past ten months my life has been on hold.

"I just want people to know I did nothing. Nothing was established by the police before I was branded a murderer - a killer of my own child. "How can any father ever get over this. It is not over, there is no closure. How can I ever remember my daughter without it bringing back all of this."

Gwent Police declined to comment. A CPS spokesman said: "There was insufficient evidence to support th