David White/Things
Simon Pickering denies causing the death of his 10-month-old son.
A relative of a baby who died from catastrophic injuries has denied holding a whānau meeting to discuss how to find a scapegoat for his death.
That’s despite her being heard on a recording telling the baby’s parents that someone has to “take the trap.”
Poseidyn Pickering died in hospital in September 2020 after being taken there from the family home in Manurewa, south Auckland. The 10-month-old had “catastrophic” head injuries.
His father, Anthony Simon Pickering—who bears his middle name—was later charged with murder.
READ MORE:
* Dad repeatedly denies being mad at baby and causing fatal injuries
* Baby’s whānau ‘stopped contact’ with hospital staff after head injury was discovered
* Baby’s mother repeatedly denies causing fatal injuries, admits she lied to police
* Family members met after baby’s tangi to discuss who would ‘fall’, court hears
* Injuries baby in Auckland ‘catastrophic and unsurvivable’, so is murder case
* Baby suffered ‘catastrophic’ head injury at the hands of father, Crown claims
Pickering has denied the charges, with his lawyer saying police were “terribly, terribly wrong”. He is on trial at the High Court in Auckland.
RYAN ANDERSON/Things
Poseidyn Pickering was taken from Manurewa’s home on September 5 before dying the following day.
Philemonia Nathan, the great-aunt of Poseidyn’s mother Filoi Huakau, told the court on Friday that Pickering had told her at the tangi that he had beaten the baby.
“He was babysitting and playing the game and baby was grizzly and couldn’t take it anymore and gave him a backhand slap and baby hit the windowsill.”
Pickering allegedly told Nathan he was angry because he wasn’t sure if Poseidyn was his baby.
During a cross-examination, attorney Quentin Duff claimed that Nathan was protecting her niece.
Kevin Stent/Things
Quentin Duff acts on behalf of Simon Pickering and accused the aunt of lying.
“I’m here to protect them both. I actually really like Simon,’ Nathan said.
The court heard that Huakau had told Nathan that she dropped Poseidyn three kicks on the head when she was drunk and killed her baby.
Duff accused Nathan of lying.
‘The truth sets you free, no lies,’ Nathan replied.
RYAN ANDERSON/Things
Poseidyn Pickering was 10 months old when he died.
The court heard that Nathan had told a detective that she would meet with the whānau to find out what had happened.
Nathan told Duff she couldn’t remember that meeting and denied that she had organized it to find a scapegoat.
“That meeting was because you were looking for someone to take on Poseidyn’s death,” Duff explained.
Duff then played an audio recording for the court of the meeting, held on September 24, where Nathan said someone had to “take the trap” for Poseidyn’s death.
She said if Pickering and Huakau weren’t going to tell the truth, someone else had to come forward.
The trial for Judge Michael Robinson and a jury continues.