Another Child abuse case since Section 59 amended:

Motueka mother jailed

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2663474/Motueka-mother-jailed

The Nelson Mail

A 22-year-old Motueka mother who shook her four-month-old baby, leaving the child with severe brain damage, has been sent to jail for three years and nine months.

Cassandra Albert pleaded guilty at a depositions hearing in May to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm to the baby with reckless disregard for his safety.

She was sentenced in the Nelson District Court this morning.

Albert’s 31-year-old partner Newton Samuel Moki was also sentenced to 22 months jail today.

The court heard the couple’s son suffered serious non-accidental injuries including permanent brain damage over Labour Weekend last year.

Moki and Albert were jointly charged with failing to provide the necessities of life for the boy after they failed to get help for him for nine hours, despite him suffering seizures and sweating uncontrollably.

More serious charges against the couple of wounding the baby with intent were dropped in May.

Moki was sentenced to a total of 22 months in jail on the failing to provide the necessities of life and an unrelated charge of driving with excess breath alcohol. It was Moki’s seventh drink-driving charge.