Woman to go on trial for toddler's murder

A woman has been sent for trial on a charge of murdering a three-year-old boy in her care following a three-day depositions hearing in Papakura District Court.

Patricia Angela Pickering, 36, was charged in September with murdering Dylan Romino following a five-month police investigation.

She also faces two charges of causing him grievous bodily harm and one of assaulting him in relation to earlier offences not immediately connected with his death.

The toddler died in Auckland's Starship Hospital in Auckland on April 18 last year, two days after being admitted to hospital with unexplained head injuries.

Pickering was remanded in custody to appear in the High Court in Auckland on March 4.

- NZPA