Spirit of death on baby boy, jury told

A baby boy had the "spirit of death" on him four days before he died, a jury in the High Court has heard.
The parents of Caleb Tribble, David and Catherine Tribble of Pakotai, are charged with their four-month-old son's manslaughter after he died of blood poisoning in December 2003. They have pleaded not guilty to that charge and another of failing to provide the necessaries for Caleb between November 26 and December 5, 2003, endangering his life.
Yesterday, Crown prosecutor Kim Thomas said David Tribble, a Christian, had said in a police interview his son had had the "spirit of death" on him four days before he died. Mr Tribble had also said Caleb had darkened eyes six days before his death.
"He talked about his diarrhoea getting worse four days prior to his death," Mr Thomas said. "He talked about Caleb's eyes frequently rolling into the back of his head and around that period his joints were sore."
Mr Tribble had also referred to Caleb vomiting in the days after Monday, but not on Friday, the day of his death.
Later in the proceedings, Dr Peter Jankowitz, a paediatrician and expert witness for the Crown, told the court Caleb could have been stabilised if he had received medical treatment the day before his death. Caleb's infection and dehydration could probably have been brought under control, he said. Asked if Caleb's symptoms, as described by Mr Tribble in his police interview, were consistent with Caleb's condition, Mr Jankowitz said: "I think it reflects the illness. I can't explain the sore joints or arms other than any unwell child may not like being handled."
The court also heard Caleb's weight had dropped and by December 5 his weight, 5.4kg, was at the bottom three percent of his age group. Mr Jankowitz said the weight loss would have set alarm bells ringing and that concern should have been communicated to the parents.
He also said that symptoms of a urinary tract infection, which Caleb had, could be confused with a gastro illness. An autopsy on Caleb found the cause of death was an infection of the kidneys and ducts. The mechanism of death was blood poisoning.
The Crown alleges the Tribbles failed in their lawful duty to get medical treatment for Caleb as he became increasingly sick in the days leading to his death.
The defence says Caleb's seven siblings were all ill with tummy bugs when Caleb was sick and they thought he had a bad case of flu. They would have taken him to a doctor if they had known or were told he was so ill.
(Proceeding)