Woman on trial for bashing daughter like 'soccer ball'

File photo / NZ Herald

A Kaitaia woman bashed her two-year-old daughter to death, repeatedly punching and kicking her like a "soccer ball", a court has been told.

Jacqui Petersen-Davis died at Auckland's Starship Hospital on August 8, 2009 from injuries which included fractured ribs, bleeding in the brain and bruises on her stomach, The Northern Advocate reported.

Norefjell Davis, aged 36, has pleaded not guilty in the High Court at Whangarei to murdering and ill-treating Jacqui.

Crown solicitor Mike Smith told the court Davis repeatedly punched and kicked her daughter before standing her up and kicking her "like some sort of a soccer ball".

She then kicked her down a hallway before she was taken to hospital after family members' attempts to administer CPR failed.

Davis had lied when she initially told medical staff at Kaitaia Hospital that Jacqui's injuries were caused by falling on concrete, Mr Smith said.

In a video interview shown to the court Davis admitted punching and kicking her children whenever she got angry.

Davis' lawyer Belinda Sellars said the injuries were caused by Davis' partner.

- NZPA