Jury retires in toddler death case

Patricia Pickering. Photo / Paul Estcourt

The jury has retired to consider its verdict in the trial of an Auckland woman accused of murdering a three-year-old boy in her care.

Justice Edwin Wylie summed up the case this morning in the High Court at Auckland in the trial of Patricia Angela Pickering, 38, who denies murdering Dylan Hohepa Rimini.

She also denies charges of causing him grievous bodily harm, and assault.

The jury of six women and six men was sent out to begin their deliberations at 12.35pm.

Dylan died in Auckland's Starship Hospital on April 18, 2008.

Pickering's original trial in February was aborted after four weeks because a key medical witness was too ill to give evidence.

Her second trial is now in its eighth week.

- NZPA