Mum: Lover caused toddler's death

Norefjell Davis gives evidence in the High Court at Whangarei yesterday. Photo / Northern Advocate

A Northland woman accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter has blamed her former partner, saying he carried out a series of horrific beatings on the child because he saw her as a burden.

Norefjell Davis, 36, elected to give evidence in the High Court at Whangarei yesterday and said her then partner Jade Petersen beat Jacqui Davis with a wire coat hanger, punched, kicked and dipped her head in a basin filled with water.

The Northern Advocate reports Davis claimed Mr Petersen told her Jacqui deserved the beatings and that they were carried out over a long period of time.

Davis said Jacqui was born at a healthy 9lb 7oz (4.28kg), but became weak, pale and unresponsive after being beaten by her then partner the night before her death at Starship Hospital on August 8, 2007.

Davis claimed that once when Jacqui was sleeping in her cot, Mr Petersen - who she said was drunk at the time - pulled the child out and carried her like a handbag.

After the couple left Auckland and stayed with friends in Awanui, Davis said she saw Mr Petersen holding a pillow over Jacqui's face and saw him punch her.

On other occasions, she said he would cover the baby's mouth with his hand.

Not long after they moved to Miro Place in Kaitaia, Davis said he beat Jacqui with a wire coat hanger.

Mr Petersen would also find other things, such as drumsticks and a fire stoker, to beat her with.

Davis claimed that other beatings included Mr Petersen standing on the child with both feet as well as putting her head in a basin filled with water. The night before Jacqui died, Davis said he shoved food in the child's mouth using a spoon when she struggled to eat her dinner.

He also threw her to the ground and kicked her repeatedly, she said, telling the court she begged him to stop.

Prior to and after Jacqui's birth, Davis said she had herself suffered physical abuse from her partner.

On cross-examination by Crown solicitor Mike Smith, she said her initial police statement - in which she admitted beating the child the day she died - was false.

"I am ashamed of the person I've become and that I covered up for the person I loved," she said.

Davis' defence team is expected to call a pathologist and other witnesses today and tomorrow. The trial is expected to finish next week.