Source: Radio New Zealand
A coronial inquiry into the death of a 10-month-old Manurewa infant is underway in Auckland. 123rf.com
A coronial inquiry into the death of 10-month-old Manurewa infant Poseidyn Hemopo-Pickering is underway in Auckland.
Poseidyn was rushed to Middlemore Hospital and later moved to Starship Children’s Hospital on the evening of 5 September, 2020, after he was found unresponsive at his South Auckland home.
He died hours later.
In the Auckland Coroner’s Court on Monday, Coroner Tracey Fitzgibbon acknowledged the inquiry followed a criminal trial in 2022 where the infant’s father, Anthony Simon Pickering, was acquitted of murdering his son.
“This coronial inquiry was put on hold until the completion of a criminal trial. This can make it very challenging for witnesses and whānau, and I encourage everyone to be mindful of this as we progress through the next few days.”
She said the inquiry was to determine how Hemopo-Pickering died and the circumstances leading up to his death.
“I’m not here to determine civil, criminal, or disciplinary liability.”
Fitzgibbon invited Poseidyn ‘s mother Filoi Huakau to reflect on her son’s life.
“He was gentle, he was soft, he was pure,” Huakau said.
“He’d do this little chuckle at every silly face and noise I made, and had an unforgettable smile that was so contagious and something I choose to cherish every day.
“At just 10 months of age I could feel the love he’d have to give if given the chance to.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
