Weeping mother flees during evidence

A Wairarapa woman accused of motor manslaughter over the death of her son left the courtroom in tears yesterday as the pathologist who did the post mortem examination gave evidence.

Wendy-May Connon was behind the wheel when her car left the road in Featherston, flipping and rolling several times, on January 16, 2008.

Her 4-year-old son Konrad Truger was thrown about 30m from the vehicle and died three days later from brain injuries.

Yesterday two children, aged 5 and 10 at the time, who survived the crash, told the High Court at Wellington how the car was travelling at more than 200 km/h moments before the crash.

They said Konrad had been sitting in the middle rear seat and not in his normal child restraint.

Crown prosecutor Geraldine Kelly said a blood test showed Connon had been smoking cannabis within hours of driving.

Yesterday a man recalled Connon's car speeding by before crashing into a paddock.

Tim Campbell had been towing his boat to do some waterskiing and had three other people in the car.

Several of the occupants gave evidence with two estimating Connon was travelling at 125 km/h when she passed them.

After rounding a corner shortly after they saw skid marks, dust and the badly damaged car.

Mr Campbell hurried to the front passenger window where he found the 5-year-old, whose face had been badly injured.

He then went to Connon, who had been thrown from the car .

"Initially I thought she was dying, the way she was kicking.

"I now know she had her head on the electric fence."

Connon's injuries included collapsed lungs, a number of broken ribs, and fractures to her pelvis and jaw.

Michelle Bargh, a nurse who was having coffee at her sister-in-law's house nearby and arrived in time to help the eldest child, told the court on Monday the child suffered a ruptured spleen and bowel in the crash.

Konrad was not discovered for 20 or 30 minutes and paramedics described how his condition deteriorated on the way to Masterton Hospital.

He was flown to Starship hospital in Auckland but doctors could detect no brain activity and scans showed the damage was not survivable.

Three days later Konrad was flown to Wellington Hospital so his family could be near when he died.

Connon, who clutched a picture of Konrad in the dock, wept several times during the day's proceedings and asked to be excused while forensic pathologist Kenneth Thomson gave evidence.

Dr Thomson described two large lacerations he found at the back of Konrad's skull.

His brain had swollen to 1 times the normal weight and the damage was consistent with "an immense force", Dr Thomson said.

Lawyers for both sides questioned medical staff on whether Konrad showed injuries consistent with having worn a seatbelt.

None were identified but Dr Thomson said: "You don't always see them. Their absence - I don't draw many conclusions from that."

- NZPA