Boy cried when held by accused

Ihaka Stokes cried and called for his mother when Troy Taylor held him in his arms two days before he died.

The 14-month-old was beaten to death in July 2015.

Taylor, the former partner of Ihaka’s mother, Mikala Stokes, has pleaded not guilty to murdering and assaulting the toddler. He is on trial in the High Court in Christchurch.

The court yesterday heard Ihaka was a settled, ‘‘happy wee kid’’ at the preschool he attended in Christchurch.

Preschool nursery head teacher Annette Johnson said she would often talk to Stokes and sometimes Taylor when Ihaka was dropped off or collected from the centre.

She vividly recalled the pick-up on his last day at preschool, two days before he died.

‘‘As Mikala was leaving the room to get Ihaka’s backpack, Troy picked him up and he was not happy about being in Troy’s arms. He was screaming . . . for Mikala.

‘‘He had never done anything like that with Troy before. He was always quite happy to go to him.’’

Ihaka was taken to Christchurch Hospital on the night of July 3 unconscious and with serious injuries. He died at 11.40pm.

Earlier, the court heard Stokes ‘‘melted and cried’’ the moment her son was declared dead.

Nurse Julie Bruerton told the court Stokes was allowed into the room where her son was being treated when it became clear he would die.

‘‘While we were doing CPR it appeared [to Stokes] that there was hope. As the doctor called it, she sort of melted and cried.’’

Detective Elliot Western interviewed Stokes at hospital. He told the court that when he first asked her if she had caused Ihaka’s injuries she said she didn’t know and mentioned her propensity to sleepwalk.

When he pressed for a more definitive answer, she said, through tears, ‘‘Do I want to say no? Because then it makes Troy look really bad.’’

Asked if police had concluded one of the pair were responsible for Ihaka’s death, Western said he only put it to Stokes as a scenario.

Constable Paul Kidd recounted his interview with Taylor soon after Ihaka was taken to Christchurch Hospital.

Taylor told Kidd he had heard a ‘‘bang’’ from Ihaka’s room shortly before 10.40pm. Thinking the child had hit his head, Taylor checked on him. He found the toddler pale and unresponsive with blood around his mouth.

After his interview that night, Taylor accompanied police to the central Christchurch station for further questioning. While in the patrol car, Kidd said Taylor took a phone call and was told Ihaka had died in hospital.

‘‘[He was] initially very upset for a minute or so. Visibly sobbing. The rest of the journey back he was very quiet.’’

Fire service station officer Brian Lewis told the court that Stokes was extremely distressed as emergency services treated her son at their home.

‘‘[Taylor] was standing still. He just had his head down and I would say that he remained quiet for most of the time.’’

The trial continues today.