Retrial opens for Sahara's killer

A former Wanganui man has gone on trial at the High Court in Napier accused of sexually violating a 5-year-old girl whose death he has already admitted causing.

Kerry Charles Ratana, 25, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last July for causing the death of Sahara Jayde Baker-Koro but pleaded not guilty to sexual violation.

The victim's mother, Chantally Baker, left him to mind the couple's young son and her two daughters on December 20, 2010, and returned to find Sahara dead in her bed.

At the time of the death, Ratana and Ms Baker were living in a flat with their 2-year-old son and Ms Baker's two daughters.

Crown prosecutor Clayton Walker said Sahara died in Ratana's care while her mother was on an evening shift at work, but there was no indication of anything untoward until about two hours after she arrived home, heard Ratana in a distressed phone discussion with his father in Wanganui and went to check on the girls in their bedroom.

Ratana fled, but was arrested by police at a Taradale phone booth about 4.30am, and in statements over the next few days, told police the girl died while he was admonishing her as she played up.

He had said he panicked, put her into her bed, tried to ignore what had happened, gave the other children their tea and put them to bed, and started drinking a bottle of whisky.

Relating to the moments after Ms Baker found her daughter dead, Ratana denied saying he had raped the child.

Mr Walker said medical evidence was that Sahara died from a heart injury consistent with significant force.

Defence counsel John Rowan QC reiterated that the manslaughter admission had nothing do with whether Ratana may have committed any sex offence.

The Crown is calling evidence from 10 witnesses, including Ms Baker, police and forensic and medical experts,

The trial is expected to take up to four days. APNZ