Troy Taylor guilty of murder

Troy Taylor has been convicted of the murder of Ihaka Stokes, the toddler he said ‘‘meant the world’’ to him.

Two years ago, the sentiment seemed to ring true. In July 2015, Taylor and his then partner Mikala Stokes, Ihaka’s mother, held each other and cried as the 14-monthold’s tiny white casket was carried out of Westpark Chapel in Christchurch. Six days later Taylor was charged with murder. Yesterday, he was found guilty.

He looked dumbfounded as the verdict was handed down and appeared to swear under his breath as he was taken away.

Stokes, the woman Taylor had spent his two-week trial in the High Court at Christchurch blaming for Ihaka’s death, said little. She left court quickly with her parents. Members of Taylor’s family and that of Cameron Ellen, Ihaka’s biological father, wiped away tears.

‘‘I’m feeling pretty happy,’’ Ellen said last night.

‘‘I was pretty sure he was going to get found guilty.’’

The Crown had argued Taylor, who had suffered multiple concussions and had ongoing problems with headaches, dizziness, frustration and irritability, had snapped.

He had assaulted Ihaka on the night of July 2, and continued on the night of July 3.

On the first day of his trial it emerged his defence would hinge on the suggestion that Stokes harmed her son on the afternoon of July 3 while Taylor was out of the house.

Defence counsel Phil Shamy argued police were guilty of investigative bias, honing in on Taylor and ignoring Stokes. They did not forensically test her clothes.

The jury of six women and six men took four hours to unanimously convict Taylor on the murder and assault charges. Police, counsel and family members declined to comment outside court.

Justice Mander thanked the jury for their ‘‘extremely careful and diligent’’ work. He remanded Taylor in custody for sentencing on June 9.