Tearful mother denies toddler murder charge

A south Auckland mother wept as she went on trial in the High Court in Auckland today for murdering her three-year-old son.

The 32-year-old-woman and her 27-year-old partner denied the murder at the beginning of last year at their Otara home.

The couple also denied the wilful ill-treatment and manslaughter of the boy.

Both have name suppression, meaning the child's name cannot be published either.

The boy died in Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital on February 1 last year, the day after being admitted with life-threatening injuries.

Police said he received at least 50 to 60 blows to his body.

The trial before a jury of seven women and five men is expected to last up to three weeks.

- NZPA