31 Jul 2013

Woman accused of killing godson

11:18 am on 31 July 2013

A woman murdered her godson by striking his head against a hard flat surface with such force his skull was broken, a court has been told.

Mariam Filihia is charged with causing grievous bodily harm and murdering Terepo Taura-Griffiths, known as Popo, in November 2011.

At the High Court in Auckland on Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Christine Gordon told the jury that Mrs Filihia and her husband looked after one-year-old Popo often and had wanted to adopt him.

Ms Gordon said they had been caring for him for four days before Mrs Filihia struck the boy's head against a hard surface.

The court was told the accused and her husband took him a medical centre where staff said he had no pulse, was pale, not breathing and had limp arms.

The baby was then taken to Middlemore Hospital, where a CT scan showed that he had a severe head injury. Soon after, he was transferred to Starship children's hospital, where after more tests life support was disconnected and he died.

Ms Gordon said Popo had been in Mrs Filihia's care for four days at the time of the fatal blow. Post-mortem results showed that he also had old brain bleeds which occurred while in her care.

Ms Gordon said pre-recorded evidence to be played during the trial will show Mrs Filihia's two oldest children describing how their mother would hurt Popo to stop him crying. They will also describe how she used to smack, flick, punch and attempt to drown him.

Mariam Filihia's lawyers are yet to reveal her defence.

The trial is set down for five weeks.