Baby Tahani's mother had post-natal depression, court told

Tabbasum Mahomed (left) with husband Azees Mahomed (centre) at the High Court at Auckland. Photo / Greg Bowker

A mother accused of failing to provide the necessaries of her life for her 11-week old daughter was suffering from post-natal depression, her doctor told an Auckland today.

Tahani Mahomed was admitted to hospital with severe head injuries on December 28, 2007. She died on New Year's Day.

Her father, Azees Mahomed, 31, is accused in the High Court at Auckland of murder and two counts of causing his baby grievous bodily harm. The Crown alleges he broke her leg by apparently twisting it violently and inflicted head injuries that caused brain damage.

He and his wife Tabbasum, 26, are also charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life.

The South African-born couple had not been able to explain to police how Tahani received her injuries.

Crown prosecutor Phil Hamlin said the baby's head had been forced violently against a hard, "unforgiving" surface.

The family doctor, Mushfiq Ahmad, said there were many factors which were likely to have contributed to Tabassum Mohamed having post-natal depression.

She was a new immigrant without any family support, living in poor housing, with two children under two-years-old, he told the court.

He wrote her a medical certificate because she was over-burdened and appeared not to be coping. She was having to study to keep her visa and keep up with her duties at home. She also missed paediatric appointments.

Dr Ahmad said he received an emergency phone call from her at 5.56am on December 28, 2007. The baby wsa vomiting and had a fever, she told him.

Paul Borich, defending Tabassum Mahomed, asked Dr Ahmad if she sounded very concerned and worried about Tahani's condition.

He agreed that was the case.

He said because the child was non-responsive, she should have gone to a doctor straight away.

"Are you sure you expressed the urgency to Mrs Mahomed about getting to a doctor straight away?" Mr Borich asked.

Dr Ahmad said he made that clear.

Nurse Lesley Kazula was working at Middlemore Hospital when Tahani was admitted.

She said Mrs Mahomed told her that her baby wasn't eating.

Ms Kazula said Tahani was semi-conscious, with her eyes partly open and her hands clenched.

"She looked quite underweight and seemed unwell and thin," Ms Kazula said.

When she asked Mrs Mahomed if Tahani had looked like this before, she said "when she gets a fright".

Ms Kazula took Tahani to the resuscitation room.

Paediatrician David Montgomery also saw Tahani that night at Middlemore Hospital.

He told the court she was receiving oxygen through a mask, with additional breaths administered by staff.

"The child was extremely lethargic and not responding normally. "She was having periods of becoming very stiff, extending her arms and legs and scissoring them over each other.

"This indicates a severe problem with the brain and increased pressure on the skull.

"She also had a very intense and bulging fontanelle, which was very tense to touch and her pupils were dilated and not responding to light," Mr Montgomery told the court.

The trial is proceeding.

- NZPA