http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=146&objectid=10505966

Horrific injuries inflicted on 15-day-old son

10:17AM Thursday April 24, 2008

No one could forget photographs of the horrific injuries he inflicted on his 15-day-old son, a judge told a Taranaki man yesterday.

The comment came during sentencing of slaughterman Alexander Hata Canterbury-Davies, 35, of Hawera, for sexually violating and injuring his baby son with intent, assaulting his former partner, and perverting the course of justice.

The little boy suffered severe bruising from his waist to knees, as well as other injuries, Judge Allan Roberts was told in New Plymouth District Court, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

He slammed Canterbury-Davies, who stood in the dock with his arms crossed defiantly, for not showing any remorse for his “inconceivable behaviour”.

The baby’s mother had asked the court to lift the automatic suppression of her former partner’s name that would have stood to protect the identity of the child.

Crown prosecutor James Gurnick reminded Judge Roberts that a doctor that examined the child had never seen bruising so extreme in a baby of that age.

He said the baby’s mother was in a state of shock after the attack and could not believe Canterbury-Davies was capable of doing such a thing.

Defence counsel Susan Hughes QC said that there was no sexual intent in the serious assault.

“I doubt if a more unusual case than this will ever come before the courts,” she said.

Ms Hughes believed the offending could be traced to her client’s frustration and incompetence as a parent on a night that had simply “spiralled out of control”.

– NZPA