Woman for trial on baby death charges

Press, 16 August 1984, Page 4

Woman for trial on baby death charges

Lise : Jane Turner, aged 28, has been committed to the High Court for trial on three charges of murdering infants and another three charges of attempted murder.

A preliminary hearing of the charges against Turner, unemployed, ended in the District Court yesterday after a one-week adjournment

In spite of submissions to the contrary from counsel, Mr K. N Hampton, Judge Bradford found that there was sufficient evidence against Turner to commit her for trial on all the charges. He remanded her in custody to appear in the High Court on October 1.

The charges are that.— • She murdered Megan Jennifer Turner at Twizel about January 11, 1980. ® She attempted to murder Kim Simes, a baby girl, at Tuai, in northern Hawkes Bay, about January 28, 1982.,

• She murdered Cheney Louise Turner about March 15, 1982.

She attempted to murder Catherine Packer at Napier bn April 1, 1983. • She attempted to murder Kathrina Rose Petticrew at Christchurch about June 17, 1983. • She murdered Michael Clark Tinnion at Christchurch on May 28. The hearing had been adjourned to enable a Wairoa doctor, Anthony William Edwards, to give evidence. However, the defence counsel yesterday consented to this being presented in statement form and read to the court.

Dr Edwards attended Turner during the last weeks of her pregnancy and

after the bird of her second child, Cheney. He said she' seemed to have no understanding of what was happening during her pregnancy, but the baby was born in excellent condition after a caesarian section on January 31, 1982. It was found that Cheney had a heart murmur, but his disappeared after a day or so. Turner had difficulty breastfeeding the baby and became upset by this, and the nurses felt she was not coping well with the baby. The baby was re-admitted to the hospital on two occasions. On the first occasion her colour was poor, she was not gaining weight, and Turner was given instructions in mothercraft. The second time, Cheney had been choking, her nose, had bled, and her heat was Tespiratoryrate were high. IThis settled down after about 48 hours and she was discharged four days after admission.

On March 15, 1982, he received a telephone call to say that Cheney had just died and that Lise and Godfrey Turner were on their way to see him. He said that both parents seemed clam and were not distraught. He examined the baby at the request of the police. There was a small amount of blood around her nostrils, but there were no external signs of injury. After the baby’s death Lise Turner had wild mood swings from euphoria to. sleepiness, but did not take the anti-depressants he gave her.

He continued to see Turner until about April, 1983, when she said she and Godfrey Turner had split up

and she would be moving to Christchurch.

Dr Edwards had treated Kim Simes for a mild chest infection about four to six : weeks before she was rushed to hospital on January 28, 1982. The baby sitter, Turner, had found the baby blue and . not breathing. The baby was admitted to hospital in a pale, but otherwise normal condition. He said someone had given the baby mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He thought that Turner, who was hearing the end of her own pregnancy and concerned about cot deaths had over-reacted to a coughing bout by the baby. Mr Hampton did not offer any evidence, but submitted that the prosecution evidence had not disclosed any intent to kill as required for charges of attempted murder.

He further submitted that there was insufficient evidence to commit Turner for trial on the charges of attempting to murder Kim Simes and Katrina Petticrew and the murder of her own two children. He said there was no evidence of any “foul play” towards any of those children by anyone, let alone Turner. Both of her own children had had medical attention before their deaths and were subjected to careful post-mor-tem examinations. The other, two babies had also had medical problems. Although Turner was committed to appear for trial on October 1, this date might be altered. Mr N. Till appeared with Mr Hampton, and Messrs N. W. Williamson and B. M. Stanaway appeared for the Crown.