Evidence On Injuries Of Child

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30181, 12 July 1963, Page 12

Evidence On Injuries Of Child

(N Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 11. Nancy Isabel HarrisIsles, who cared for a child, Sandra Yee, told the Magistrate’s Court today that the child came to her on occasions with a lump on her head, a discoloured eye ami a split lip.

Mrs Harris-Isles was giving evidence at the hearing of a charge of manslaughter against Sau Ying Yee, aged 22. a housewife who was alleged to have caused the death of her two-year-old daughter Sandra on or about June 17 by unlawfully assaulting her. Depositions are being taken -before Mr R. D. Jamieson, SM Yee was represented by Mr G. C. Kent with him Mr B. M. Kerr, and Mr W. R. Birks is appearing for the Crown.

Donald Urquhart Hay. senior medical officer of the Wellington Hospital outpatients’ department, said that the injuries would probably have been received by the child within 38 hours before her admission to the hospital and were most likely to have been caused by multiple blows by a blunt instrument.

The child died on June 20 as a result of a brain hemorrhage received through the injuries.

Isidore Adair Marsden, a

registered medical practitioner, of Titahi Bay, said in March, 1962, the child was brought to her consulting rooms with extensive scalds caused by a jug of boiling water. The child was admitted to the Wellington Hospital. On May 28. 1962, the child was again brought to the surgery with eczema caused by the scalds. Apart from eczema the child appeared quite well. On June 22, 1962, the child was brought to the surgery with pneumonia and was again admitted to the hospital. On June 18. 1963. she went to 24 Whitehouse road, witness said. She was met by the husband and taken to the child in a cot. The child was clothed in everyday clothes. From an examination ot the child she found that there was extensive bruising to the forehead, including both eyelids, so that only one eye could be opened. The child was unconscious. Her breathing was regular and she was pale. There was another bruise about 3in in diameter at the back at the head on the left-hand side. There were numerous bruises on the back, forearms and legs of the child. Witness considered the child’s condition was very grave. Yee told her that his wife had said that the child had fallen from the cot.

Her reply had been: “Go on, this child has not fallen from any cot.” Normally Yee had spoken to her of the condition of the child. He had a much greater command of English than his wife, said Marsden Yee bad told her that when he left to go to work that

morning (June 18), the child appeared to be asleep. She said that she told Mrs Yee: “You did this."

Mr Kent made a general objection to all evidence of conversation in English in the presence of Mrs Yee. John Oubridge Mercer, director of pathology, Wellington Hospital, said there were 30 bruises on the child’s body and limbs He thought the girl had suffered terrible injuries from which she could not have recovered Death was caused by laceration of the brain. The brain injuries could not have been caused by a fall from a cot.

Mrs Harris-Isles said she looked after Sandra, at first during the day while Mrs Yee worked at her husband’s fruit shop, and later at nights as well. On those occasions Sandra stayed home only at the week-ends Sometimes when she returned to Mrs Harris-Isles’s home her face was marked.

Sandra became reluctant to return to her mother at week-ends. Once the witness had called at the Yee home and found her with a black eye and bruised cheeks Mrs Yee had said Sandra hao been a naughty girl and pulled out the cabbages. Mrs Harris-Isles told the Court On another occasion she called al the Yee home as a result of something a Mis Quinn, who served in the shop, told her. She found Sandra with her bottom lip split, her chin bruised and with several small bruises around her nose.

Mrs Yee had always kept Sandra clean and well dressed, witness said. Bruce Yee seemed fond of the child but Mrs Yee did not show her much affection. The hearing was adjourned until Monday.