Murder accused worried boy was sick, court told

Patricia Pickering. Photo / Paul Estcourt

A woman accused of murdering the toddler in her care told her cousin she thought he was sick the day he went to hospital, a court was told today.

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

Pickering was Dylan's caregiver. The toddler died in Auckland's Starship Hospital in April 2008.

Heather Pickering told Crown prosecutor Phil Hamlin she received a telephone call from her cousin Patricia Pickering on the day Dylan went into hospital.

"She thought he had a bug. Then all of a sudden he had a swollen brain, he's on life support and things weren't looking too good for him. She was very upset," Heather Pickering said.

Defence lawyer Frank Hogan asked Heather Pickering if she had ever seen Dylan bump into furniture or items in the house.

She said Dylan used to be distracted by her son and fell over a lot, especially when her son chased Dylan around.

Pickering's trial before a jury of seven men and five women and set to run another two weeks.

- NZPA