The jury in the trial of an Auckland man accused of killing his two-year-old stepdaughter has retired for the night.
The seven women and five men deliberated for about 4 1/2 hours in the High Court at Auckland today to decide if Michael Joseph Martin, 25, murdered Leilani Mary-Jane Lotonu'u in June 2012.
They will be back tomorrow morning.
The Crown says Martin struck the tiny toddler's stomach with a blow so severe it ruptured an internal organ and a resulting infection proved fatal.
The defence says Martin is innocent and Leilani's mother Amy Lorigan must have been responsible.