Young father cleared of killing baby son

A young man who spent almost 15 months in jail accused of causing his son's death walked free at the weekend - not guilty at the end of a shaken-baby syndrome manslaughter trial in Napier.

Arthur Charles Niania, 22, regarded as a caring young father, had denied causing injuries which doctors said killed four-month-old Raiden Niania on January 15 last year.

He was taken into custody as he and the mother, Julianne White, waited with her family for Raiden's return for a tangi. His only freedom since the arrest was a few hours for his son's burial, the day after his arrest, and a few days' bail, ruined when he visited Julianne on his birthday and breaching a condition not to associate with the girlfriend who stuck by him.

They embraced, surrounded by his and Julianne's family, after the jury ended a four-hour deliberation and 3 1/2-day trial with: "Not Guilty."

Her parents told how Julianne went into shock when told Niania was charged with manslaughter, just a few hours after what they thought was a routine discussion with police and doctors about the circumstances in which Raiden died.

Police alleged that, while left alone for a short time with Raiden at Julianne's flat, Niania became angered by Raiden crying and shook him.

A doctor told police severe shaking caused the injury which left Raiden brain dead. Niania said he lifted Raiden out of his cot after hearing him gasping, and if he had shaken the boy it was in panic as he urged Raiden to "hang-on," and asked: "Son - Are you still with us?"

For the defence, clinical pathologist Dr Martin Sage said there was little evidence of the minimum amount of force which could cause the injuries assessed in Raiden, who was born premature after only 29 weeks.

Dr Sage also believed it could not be concluded the injury could only have occurred in the estimated 47 minutes between when Julianne and her mother left the flat and when Niania phoned for an ambulance.

- NZPA