The Crown says a three-year-old boy allegedly murdered by his caregiver was still healing from a broken rib at the time of his death.
Dylan Rimoni died in Auckland's Starship Hospital from unexplained head injuries in April 2008 after his life support was turned off.
The Crown alleges Patricia Pickering, 38, hit the boy's head on a hard surface with such violence that it very quickly led to his death.
Ms Pickering is also charged with two counts of grevious bodily harm and one of assault.
Police say these charges relate to incidents not immediately related to Dylan Rimoni's death.These include the baby suffering a head injury and a broken rib between 2007 and 2008.
The court heard ambulance officers arrived at Miss Pickering's house early on 16 April 2008 to find the baby limp, pale and unresponsive. He died two days later.
A post-mortem later revealed that Dylan Rimoni had earlier suffered another head injury and a broken rib, which he was still healing from at the time of his death.
Miss Pickering was his adoptive mother and had told police she was the only person with him the night he was taken to hospital.
The trial is set down for four weeks.
