Stepfather joked about child killing

‘‘We should kill a kid more often.’’

Police secretly recorded the remark made by the stepfather of an autistic boy only days after the boy died, an inquest heard.

Coroner Brigitte Windley began an inquest in Christchurch yesterday into the death of Leon Jayet-Cole, 5, who was taken to Christchurch Hospital on May 27, 2015, with serious head injuries causing cardiac arrest. He died the next day.

His stepfather, James Roberts, was charged with his murder and died in June, 2016, awaiting trial.

Detective Sergeant Chris Power, who headed the investigation into Leon’s death, told the inquest police had planted a listening device in the house Roberts shared with Leon’s mother Emma, to whom he was married.

On June 1, 2015, Roberts and Emma could be heard talking about the gifts and money they had received after Leon’s death.

Roberts had said the ‘‘new stuff’’ was incredible and had added ‘‘we should kill a kid more often’’.

He was also recorded saying he and Emma should do something cool for the kids, such as going to Fiji.

Police believed the comment about killing a kid was tantamount to an admission ‘‘in jest’’ by Roberts who was probably on drugs at the time, Power said

Police were well justified in laying the murder charge against Roberts, he said.

They believed Roberts had regularly beaten Leon and his autistic brother over several years in a home environment that featured drug use by both Roberts and Emma, he said.

Traces of methamphetamine and heroin were found in Leon’s hair.

Roberts had told lies about a hand injury he had at the time of Leon’s death and had explained a fresh hole in a plasterboard wall with a story about his ‘‘dog’s bum’’ that was ‘‘unfeasible’’.

His story about what happened to Leon was not consistent with phone calls and the severity of injuries sustained by Leon.

His accounts varied on important points.

Leon’s post mortem showed a history of injuries not consistent with play, rough-housing or ordinary falls, he said.

Leon already had a broken big toe and facial grazes, sustained in the weeks before the major blow to his head leading to his death.

In his evidence, Power recited 44 abrasions and bruises to Leon’s body when he was admitted to hospital on May 27, 2015.

Medical reports showed Leon’s head and other injuries were more common in road accidents and of falls from 20m. Kicks, stomps, and punches could also have produced the injuries.

The inquest continues today.