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Fijian babysitter denies murdering a baby in New Zealand

October 30, 2017 6:22 pm

A Fijian-Indian babysitter Shayal Sami who resides in Christchurch, New Zealand denies murdering baby Aaliyah Chand in January, 2015.

Sami who is accused of murdering the 1-year-old says the child fell off a couch while sleeping.

At the High Court in Christchurch yesterday, Crown prosecutor Mark Zarifeh said Aaliyah died from severe head injuries, including two skull fractures, as well as bleeding in the cranial cavity and eyes. She also had extensive bruises on her face, forehead and ears.

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Zarifeh says the injuries were inconsistent with a fall from a couch.
Aaliyah died in intensive care at about 8.30pm the following day with her parents, Dev Chand and Anjani Lata by her bedside.

The trial, before Justice Rachel Dunningham, is expected to take two weeks, with the Crown looking to call 25 witnesses.

Zarifeh says that even if Aaliyah had woken and stood on the couch before falling, it was “extremely unlikely” that her serious head injuries could have been caused by a fall.

The Crown alleges that it was a reckless killing, with the injuries inflicted by Sami “in a moment of anger or frustration”.

He said a fall would not explain the child’s injuries.

The trial will hear from Aaliyah’s parents.