Mum of 16-month-old told no hope for son - court

Starship Childrens Hospital. Photo / NZH

The mother of a 16-month-old child was told there was no hope for him after he was shaken violently and slammed against a wall, an Auckland jury was told today.

Fiji-born Abhinesh Sharma, 37, a plumber, appeared in the High Court at Auckland charged with the murder of Sachin Dhani, who died at Auckland's Starship Hospital on June 21, 2007 of head injuries.

Sharma pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder before a jury of eight men and four women . The trial began today and is set down for three weeks.

Sachin, from Remuera, central Auckland, was found badly injured 13km southeast of downtown Auckland after police stopped a car that was being driven erratically on June 19, 2007.

At the time, Mr and Mrs Dhani were hurrying Sachin to hospital.

Crown prosecutor Phil Hamlin told the jury the Dhani and Sharma families were close, as the wives were sisters.

Both families were originally from Fiji. The Dhani family moved to New Zealand in 1996, and the Sharma family did so in 2006.

Sashi Dhani, mother of Sachin, said her family had a cleaning business and the Sharma family often helped with babysitting.

On June 19, Sharma was babysitting Sachin and his siblings, a five-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy. Sharma and his wife Dorin also have five-year-old twins.

Mrs Dhani told the court she received a phone call from Sharma at 8.06pm, telling her she had to come quickly.

"Mr Sharma told me Sachin had closed his eyes and he was crying. He said he's not feeling well," Mrs Dhani said.

She said when she arrived Sharma was sitting on his doorstep holding Sachin on his lap. Sachin was wrapped in a shawl.

"His breathing was loud and his body was loose. His head felt really soft at the back. I picked him up and got into the car with my other children and husband Suresh.

"We went straight to Ascot Hospital. We got stopped by the police on the way because we were going too fast. The police took us to the hospital, and the children followed with Abhinesh (Sharma) in his car," Mrs Dhani said.

Later, when Mrs Dhani asked Sharma what happened he said he was in the bathroom and did not know.

Mrs Dhani said a nurse at Ascot Hospital asked her lots of questions because the injuries were serious.

At the hospital Sachin was not responsive , and was transferred to Starship Hospital.

Mrs Dhani said Sachin died two days after doctors told her he was critically ill.

Under cross-examination from Sharma's lawyer, Geoff Wells, Mrs Dhani said Sharma had built up a good relationship with her children, as he stayed with her family for three months when he first arrived in New Zealand.

Mrs Dhani said when she arrived at Sharma's house, he showed concern for Sachin.

When Mr Wells asked Mrs Dhani if she would ever leave Sachin unattended with her other children, she said she would not.

Earlier , Mr Hamlin said Sharma had become frustrated and angry with Sachin.

"He picked him up and shook him violently. He slammed him against the wall and floor. His body went floppy, and his head became swollen like a balloon. He rapidly lost consciousness, and he never recovered from his fatal injuries," he said.

Mr Wells accepted that Sachin was left in the care of Sharma on the day he suffered the fatal injuries, but rejected the crown case that they were caused by Sharma.

He said Sachin's death was accidental.

Proceeding.

- NZPA