Brother says accused told him what to say

The brother of an Auckland woman on trial for the murder of a 3-year-old child in her care said she told him to say the child fell off a trampoline, a court was told yesterday.

Patricia Angela Pickering, 38, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Dylan Hohepa Tonga Rimoni, two charges of causing him grievous bodily harm, and one of assault.

Pickering was the caregiver for Dylan, who died in Auckland's Starship hospital in April 2008.

The assault and grievous bodily harm charges arose from alleged incidents between December 1, 2007, and April 1, 2008.

In the High Court at Auckland yesterday, Frank Hogan, defending Pickering, asked Adam Pickering, the accused's brother, if he had ever seen Dylan fall off a trampoline.

He said he had not.

Mr Hogan said that when he spoke to the police, he told them what he had been told to say by his sister.

Mr Hogan asked Mr Pickering if he was included in a meeting with doctors and nurses with his sister and her partner Douglas Hoeta at the Starship on the day Dylan died.

He said he thought he was there, but he couldn't remember.

"Did you tell the medical staff that between 9am and 10am on Saturday April 12, 2008, you had put Dylan on the trampoline outside?" Mr Hogan asked. Mr Pickering agreed he had.

The trial continues.

- NZPA