A Halifax man charged in the death of his seven-week-old baby daughter took the stand for the first time on Tuesday and repeatedly denied ever shaking her during testimony in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

Ashiqur Rahman, 26, testified that he had very little physical contact with his daughter, Aurora Breakthrough, after her birth on June 6, 2009. He said the infant's care was left up to his former partner, Jane Gomes — the baby was her responsibility.

Rahman said he rarely held the baby and was only left alone with her on two occasions. He also said he hardly ever fed or changed his daughter, because that was what the couple decided together.

"Jane and I had a discussion and she suggested and I agreed that she would carry out the care of Aurora and I would do the [computer] work," he said.

Rahman testified that it was Gomes who found the baby not breathing, and he tried to resuscitate her before she was rushed to the IWK Health Centre in Halifax. Aurora died on July 29, 2009 — a few weeks after she was taken to hospital with severe injuries.

Rahman has pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault in the death of his seven-week-old daughter.

Gomes has testified that she saw Rahman hold the legs and arms of the baby and shake her when the girl cried during a diaper change in July 2009.

But Rahman denied that happened, saying Gomes passed him the dirty diapers during the changes while Gomes held the child's legs.

"I never held the legs and hands together," he said.

He said sometimes he held the baby's hands if Aurora was hitting herself in the face when her arms flailed about during a change.

Denies slapping baby

Last year, Gomes, 24, pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to provide the necessities of life. She received a conditional discharge with six months of probation.

As part of her plea bargain, she testified against Rahman and said she witnessed him slapping and shaking their baby.

Gomes has also alleged that on June 29, 2009, she had gone grocery shopping for several hours in the evening and left Rahman alone with Aurora. She said when she returned, Rahman apologized to her for slapping the baby due to his frustration with her crying.

Rahman denied that charge on Tuesday, saying it was unlikely Gomes would have left him alone in June because she was still breastfeeding the baby.

Under cross-examination by Crown attorney Mark Heerema, Rahman said he had loved Gomes, wanted to have a baby with her and planned to marry her.

Heerema questioned that, asking Rahman why computer records seized by police showed that three weeks after Aurora was born he received a confirmation of registration for a matchmaking website.

Rahman replied that he registered on the website because he believed it was about relationships in general, and when he realized it was for finding a new mate, he stopped using it.

Trial continues Wednesday

Experts from the IWK Health Centre have testified that Aurora died as the result of traumatic injuries to her brain.

Child abuse expert Dr. Steven Bellemare concluded that Aurora's injuries were "all in keeping with a baby abused over time." She died in hospital 20 minutes after being taken off life-support.

Dr. Marnie Wood, a medical examiner, testified that Aurora died of a blunt-force injury to her head.

Wood said she didn't know how the baby was injured. But, she said the infant was either hit on the head or her head was smashed into an object, or she was shaken.

Aurora had broken ribs, a broken arm and leg bones.

Wood testified that some of the baby's fractures happened when she was three weeks old. Aurora's wrist was broken from being bent or struck, court heard, and her leg had been hurt from someone twisting it.

The case resumes Wednesday.

With files from The Canadian Press