Katie Strawhorn, 20, insisted she is not 'putting the truth to one side' to help Jack Butterworth, who is charged with the culpable homicide of his baby son Lucas

A young mother has told jurors she is still 'in love' with an 18-year-old man accused of killing their unborn son by punching her 'full force' in the stomach.

Katie Strawhorn, 20, insisted she is not 'putting the truth to one side' to help Jack Butterworth, who is charged with the culpable homicide of his baby son Lucas in November 2016.

Butterworth, who is accused of attacking Ms Strawhorn when she was heavily pregnant with a boy, denies all charges against him.

Prosecutors claim he assaulted Ms Strawhorn and that she suffered a 'placental abruption' resulting in the boy being born by emergency caesarean section.

The child was said to have so severely injured that he died five days later in hospital.

Ms Strawhorn's mother, Angela Bryce, told the High Court in Glasgow she had an argument with her daughter that led to the 20-year-old grabbing a knife .

Mrs Bryce, 46, said she held her daughter by the throat in a bid to get her to drop the knife when Ms Strawhorn said 'that's what Jack does to me as well'.

She claimed that while cuddling on the sofa and crying, her daughter 'told her everything that happened'.

Ashley Edwards asked: 'What did she tell you?'

Mrs Bryce replied: 'She told me that Jack punched her full force in the stomach.'

Butterworth, who is accused of attacking Ms Strawhorn(pictured) when she was heavily pregnant with a boy, denies all charges against him

She further explained her daughter said she had turned round and Jack punched her.

Ms Edwards asked: 'Did you and Katie discuss what she was going to do with the information?'

The witness replied: 'I said to Katie 'you know what you have to do', 'I do mum'. That was the conversation.'

Jurors also heard Ms Strawhorn claimed she wanted to abort her baby so she could remain in a relationship with Butterworth.

Jurors heard she made the remarks to her housing officer - who described the 20 year-old as someone who had gone from 'confident' to being 'withdrawn'.

It was also claimed Ms Strawhorn was later seen to be 'upset' at her flat with Butterworth inside 'very angry'.

The trial yesterday heard she had moved into a flat in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire in March 2016.

Prosecutors claim he assaulted Ms Strawhorn and that she suffered a 'placental abruption' resulting in the boy being born by emergency caesarean section

She had started dating Butterworth earlier that year.

Ms Strawhorn went on to have a meeting with council housing officer Alison Watt. It was there she revealed she was having a baby.

Prosecutor Ashley Edwards QC asked: 'Did she discuss if she was going to continue with the pregnancy?'

Miss Watt said: 'She advised us that it was her intention to terminate the pregnancy.

'She advised that she wanted to remain with Jack and that the only way that would happen was if she terminated the pregnancy.

'She would rather be with Jack than the baby.'

Miss Watt also told the jury Ms Strawhorn was someone who was 'always very confident'.

But, she added: 'Her demeanour had totally changed. She was very withdrawn in herself.'

Miss Watt recalled she was later in the area in May last year when she heard 'raised voices' from the property.

The child was said to have so severely injured that he died five days later in hospital. Pictured: Ms Strawhorn

The housing officer went to the door and Katie answered. She described Katie as 'upset and shaken'.

Butterworth was also seen in the house and Miss Edwards asked the witness how he was.

Miss Watt: 'Very angry and pent up. I believe he asked us to leave because it was none of our business.'

The witness further told the jury that she spotted 'holes in doors' of the property.

Ms Strawhorn is seen outside the High Court in Glasgow

Butterworth is said to have assaulted Katie at a number of addresses in Kilmarnock last November 3.

The indictment includes claims Butterworth did 'kick her on the stomach' as well as chase and cause her to 'flee and fall'

It is also alleged he did 'repeatedly inflict blunt force trauma on her head and body'.

Ms Strawhorn was 36 weeks pregnant at the time.

Butterworth faces a separate charge of assaulting Katie between January and November 2016.

This includes a claim he threw fire crackers at her as well as punching and kicking her.

A further charge claims he behaved in a threatening manner towards the baby's mum and another woman.

Prosecutors allege - amongst other accusations -that he broke wardrobe mirrors and threw furniture.

He denies the charges and the trial, before Judge Lord Ericht, continues.