An ambulance officer who first saw a Flaxmere child who was allegedly killed by his stepfather has told a High Court jury he knew the boy was going to die.
Tamehana Huata is on trial in Napier for the manslaughter of Matiu Wereta in October 2015. Huata is also defending a charge of injuring with intent to injure.
The toddler died in Hawke's Bay Hospital with critical head injuries. He also had multiple bruises and bite marks.
Huata, who was 17 years old at the time, said the boy tripped over and was injured accidentally.
St John ambulance officer Joshua McInnes said the child's injuries were as serious as it gets.