The mother of a Canterbury baby who died from catastrophic head injuries has taken the stand and denied any involvement in her son's death, as the trial continues before a jury in Christchurch. The infant's death, which has been the subject of a lengthy police investigation, has now reached the courts after months of legal proceedings.

The case involves a baby boy who died after sustaining injuries consistent with severe non-accidental trauma. Pathology evidence presented earlier in the trial described the injuries as catastrophic, and the Crown's case is that the child's death was not accidental.

The mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons at this stage of proceedings, was cross-examined by Crown prosecutors who put to her that she was the person responsible for her son's injuries. She denied all of the allegations put to her, maintaining throughout her evidence that she did not harm her child.

Defence counsel argued that the medical evidence was not as clear-cut as the Crown maintained, and that the jury must be certain beyond reasonable doubt before returning a guilty verdict on any charge.

The case has drawn significant public attention in Canterbury, where it has raised difficult questions about child safety, the adequacy of early intervention by health and social services, and the challenges of prosecuting cases involving infant deaths.

The trial is ongoing. A verdict is expected in due course after both parties complete their cases and the jury retires to deliberate.

"The mother of a Canterbury baby who died of catastrophic head injuries has denied any involvement in her son's death." — ODT Star News court reporting, May 2026