Mother will 'never forgive' her toddler's killer, court hears

A woman whose former partner murdered her two-year-old child on the NSW Mid North Coast has told a court she will never forgive his killer.

Warning: This story contains details of child abuse that some readers might find distressing.

Members of the child's family gave victim impact statements during a sentencing hearing in the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney today.

A 40-year-man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of the boy's murder by a jury after a four-week trial earlier this year. 

At the time of the baby's death in 2022, the man was in a relationship and living with the child's mother.

Today, the woman said meeting the offender was the biggest mistake of her life.

"He changed my life in ways that can never be undone. I'll never forgive him," she said.

"He absolutely destroyed my life and there is simply no forgiving that."

Catastrophic brain injury

The man was charged after a coronial inquest into the child's death in September 2024 found there was enough evidence to suggest he may have been involved.

During the trial, the jury heard that on the morning of May 23, 2022, the toddler's mother found the child unresponsive when she tried to wake him.

The two-year-old boy was flown from Coffs Harbour to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital, where he died of a catastrophic brain injury two days later.

An autopsy revealed the two-year-old had a fractured pelvis and rib, and bruising on his body.

The jury heard evidence that the offender would discipline the child by locking him in a dark garage with the lights off or by taking away his mattress and pillow.

On the afternoon before his death, the court heard the toddler's mother saw him fall downstairs outside their home.

Family speak

During today's sentencing hearing, the child's father told the court about the devastating impact of losing his son.

"My whole life started a downward spiral when my son was murdered," he said.

"My enjoyment of life has been sucked out of my soul."

A statement was read in court on behalf of the boy’s older brother, who said he was angry "he isn't here anymore".

"I miss playing cars with him," the statement said.

"I have all of his toys in my room but it's not really fun to play with them myself."

The toddler's mother told the court she hoped to find closure after her son's killer is sentenced.

"These are questions I ask myself daily and will spend the rest of my years trying to make sense [of]," she said.

"He will never tell, so we will never know. We will have to carry that burden forever."

Defence barrister David Price told the court that he planned to subpoena medical documents and have the offender's diagnosis of multiple sclerosis included in sentencing considerations.

Justice Phillip Boulten said the documents should have been produced during the trial.

"Leaving it until after proceedings and after being convicted of murder is unsatisfactory," he said.