OT visit before baby’s murder
Oranga Tamariki visited the home of a 10-month-old baby due to concerns about his welfare just under three weeks before his father beat him to death.
David Grant Sinclair, 31, was found guilty by a jury in the High Court at Greymouth yesterday for the murder of his son, CJ White.
The baby died on July 9, 2019, after suffering 30 bruises on his body, complex fractures to his skull and bleeding on the brain and behind both eyes.
Oranga Tamariki upper South Island regional manager Kaye MacDonald confirmed the department was informed of concerns about CJ’s welfare on June 6.
‘‘Following this, our staff began to gather information to assess his safety. This included contacting wider wha¯nau and other agencies.’’
Two social workers visited CJ and his family at home on June 21. MacDonald said she would not comment on what action, if any, was taken before a coroner’s inquest had been held.
A Plunket nurse, Sinclair’s friends and neighbour all told the court they saw CJ with bruises but had no concerns.
Previous injuries include a significant groin injury that experts said was caused by a kick or punch, bruises, a broken foot and brain damage that was caused at least three days, but possibly months before his death.
‘‘After CJ’s death, Oranga Tamariki reviewed its work and our actions will be considered by a coroner,’’ MacDonald said.
Oranga Tamariki had made ‘‘significant efforts’’ to ensure ‘‘more timely’’ intervention for children at risk.
‘‘The emphasis is on quick and accurate identification of children and young people whose safety and needs are best addressed through the child protection system.’’
Social workers were now clear on the need to engage earlier with families, she said.
CJ’s maternal family said in a statement that they were happy with the verdict, but there were ‘‘no winners here, just great loss’’.
‘‘Many mistakes were made within CJ’s life in the last two months that he was alive. But only one person – David Sinclair – is responsible and now he will pay for this,’’ they said.
‘‘We have waited 18 months and stayed silent to ensure there was justice for CJ.’’
Detective Sergeant Aaron Paulsen said it was ‘‘another tragedy where a child has died’’.
‘‘It is an endemic problem. We need a creative approach involving all the agencies, police, child protection services, education and health workers to prevent this happening in future.’’
Sinclair appeared pale but emotionless when the jury delivered its unanimous guilty verdict after about four hours’ deliberation. Justice Rebecca Edwards remanded Sinclair for sentencing to a provisional date of January 22.
She said the Crown had alleged Sinclair’s motive for murder was his frustration at CJ’s teething and sleeplessness, while the defence argued it did not make sense for an ‘‘otherwise loving father to kill his baby while his other son was asleep in the house and his friends were on the way’’.
Putting aside the earlier injuries and bruises, medical experts felt it would be implausible for CJ’s head injuries to be sustained by a fall down stairs.
Sinclair’s mother said he was a good but not perfect parent, and that she had never seen him angry or hit his son.
Crown prosecutor Deirdre Elsmore said CJ died from a violent assault by his father, and an earlier injury to his groin was an ‘‘extraordinary callous and cruel assault’’.
Sinclair told ‘‘selfish and selfserving lies ... dreamed up while CJ was unconscious and labouring for breath’’, she said.
A forensic pathologist said it was possible but implausible that CJ’s head injury was caused by a fall down the stairs. The injury was unusually severe and similar to those usually seen in high impact road crashes.
Defence counsel Andrew McKenzie said teething did not stack up as a motive for murder, and Sinclair had a lot of friends and family who were helping him care for CJ.
‘‘Many mistakes were made ... but only one person – David Sinclair – is responsible and now he will pay for this.’’ Statement from CJ’s maternal family