An Auckland woman inflicted nearly fatal head injuries on her four-year-old son because she was angry he wet the bed, a High Court jury was told.
Itupa Julia Mikaio pleaded not guilty in the High Court in Auckland to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and failing to provide necessities for a child.
She admitted a further charge of injuring with intent.
The charges were laid after her son Benjamin was taken to Auckland's Starship Hospital unconscious in June 2008.
Crown prosecutor Deborah Marshall said Mikaio came to New Zealand with her husband and other children from American Samoa in 2005.
Benjamin at first stayed with her husband's parents in American Samoa, but joined the family in December 2007 as a three-year-old.
Ms Marshall said Benjamin had some trouble settling in as he had spent all his time with his grandparents and didn't speak English.
She said Mikaio became upset that Benjamin wet his bed, saying she once beat him with a shoe and then became upset when he wet the bed again on the morning of June 30 last year, at first hitting his head and then throwing his head against the floor.
Afterwards, she did not seek medical help, despite Benjamin being unable to take in water, and waited until 1pm that day before seeking out a Samoan massage therapist, who then advised her to call 111.
Ms Marshall said Benjamin's injuries were so serious that he would have died if he had not received surgery shortly after he arrived at Starship Hospital.
Mikaio's lawyer Ted Faleauto said his client denied causing the head injury, and that her action in seeking out a Samoan therapist was appropriate for what she understood.
Ms Marshall indicated the Crown was likely to call 17 witnesses, including Ms Mikaio's husband and her two eldest children.
Front page
RSS Feed