Nelson parents guilty of some abuse charges

The Nelson parents on trial for hurting their baby son have been found guilty by a jury of some of the charges they faced.

After 14 hours deliberating, the Nelson District Court jury today found the parents, a 19-year-old woman and 25-year-old man, guilty of one count of assaulting the baby, relating to bruising on his pubic bone, and two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, relating to two broken arms the baby suffered.

The father was also found guilty of a charge - which the mother had already admitted - of attempting to pervert the course of justice by inducing the woman's brother to make a false confession of causing grievous bodily harm to the baby.

The pair were acquitted of a further charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, relating to the baby's 28 rib fractures, and of assaulting the child, relating to bruising on his fingernails.

However, the jury has yet to deliver a verdict on the final charge, of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to injure, which also relates to the rib fractures.

Shortly after midday Judge David McKegg sent the jury back to deliberate further, to decide if they can make progress on that charge.

The parents have interim name suppression.

- nzpa