Mum jailed for fatally bashing 2-year-old

Norefjell Davis, who was accused of murdering her two-year-old daughter, earlier blamed her former partner for the baby's injuries. Photo / Northern Advocate

A Northland woman who bashed her two-year-old daughter to death was today jailed for more than eight years.

Norefjell Davis was found guilty in May of the manslaughter and wilful ill treatment of Jacqui Petersen-Davis but not guilty of her murder.

Jacqui died in Auckland's Starship Hospital on August 8, 2009 from numerous injuries which included fractured ribs, bleeding in the brain and bruises on her stomach.

She also had numerous older injuries as a result of previous assaults.

In the High Court at Auckland today, Justice Peter Woodhouse sentenced her to eight years and six months imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of four years and three months.

Davis kicked her daughter numerous times, on one occasion so hard that she flew through the air.

She also punched her.

"This was not an isolated assault by you on your daughter, and you do acknowledge that," Justice Woodhouse said.

"There was serious violence in the kicks and blows you inflicted. She must have suffered dreadfully. There was callousness in your treatment of her, she was very vulnerable. You have abused a position of utmost trust, that of a parent to a young child."

Davis told doctors at the hospital her daughter had fallen off a playground but later admitted to causing the fatal injuries to police.

She denied the attack during her trial, saying Mr Peterson was responsible.

- NZPA