Baby dehydrated before death, nurse tells hearing

A public health nurse had noted a baby had sunken eyes and was dehydrated shortly before he died, the Whangarei District Court was told.

A depositions hearing for David and Catherine Tribble began on Tuesday before two JPs. The couple are charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life following the death of their four-month-old baby in December last year.

Caleb Nathaniel Tribble died on December 5 at Pakotai, 60km northwest of Whangarei.

David Tribble has previously said the family had strong Baptist beliefs and believed in the healing power of God but were not against medical treatment.

Yesterday, public health nurse Phillipa Butturini said she had visited the family home on December 3 last year. Her notes from the visit stated Caleb had sunken eyes and was pale and dehydrated.

He had lost 0.8kg - from 6.4kg on November 26 to 5.6kg on December 3, she said.

The November 26 visit was after Caleb had diarrhoea for three days.

Mrs Butturini said she had mentioned taking Caleb to a doctor to Catherine Tribble.

- NZPA