Two-year-old JJ Lawrence was fatally struck in the stomach by his mother's boyfriend with such powerful force his liver and pancreas were split in half, a jury has been told.
Joel Loffley, 29, is accused of killing James Joseph Ruhe Lawrence, known as JJ, at his home in the east Auckland suburb of Orakei on November 14 last year.
Loffley has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder and is on trial in the High Court at Auckland.
In his opening address to the jury today, crown prosecutor Nick Webby said Loffley was alone caring for JJ when he became angry and frustrated.
Loffley struck JJ in the stomach, but told his mother, Josephine Lawrence, that he'd fallen off the bed, Mr Webby said.
Even though JJ was suffering significant internal bleeding, Loffley put him to bed and quietly left the house, Mr Webby said.
When Loffley returned later, he went into JJ's room and discovered he wasn't breathing.
An ambulance was called, but Mr Webby said JJ was "clearly dead by the time it arrived and had been for some time".
Experts who carried out a post-mortem examination said JJ's death was caused by a blunt force trauma to his abdomen, Mr Webby said.
The injuries JJ suffered were non-survivable and it was likely he died in a matter of minutes.
The experts said the injuries were inconsistent with the explanation given by Loffley that JJ had fallen off the bed and hit his head, Mr Webby told the jury.
Following a police investigation, Loffley was arrested and charged with JJ's murder on December 13.
He has been in custody since his arrest.
Defence lawyer Roger Chambers is expected to give a brief opening address later today.
The Crown expects to call 75 witnesses during the trial, including members of the dead toddler's family as well as Loffley's family.
The trial, before Justice Patrick Keane, is expected to take three weeks.
NZN