The High Court trial of a woman accused of killing a three-year-old boy has been abandoned in Auckland.
Dylan Rimoni died of unexplained head injuries two years ago.
His adoptive mother, Patricia Pickering, 38, is charged with his murder, assault and grievous bodily harm.
Her trial was aborted at the Crown's request on Wednesday because a key medical expert was unavailable to give evidence due to illness.
The trial had already run for four weeks. A retrial is expected in May.
