Pair avoid prison on neglect charges

PHIL REID/The Dominion Post

NEWBORN INJURED: Masterton couple Noelette Shirley Mason and Richard Oneroa arrive at Wellington District Court for sentencing yesterday.

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A drug-addicted couple whose seven-week-old daughter had a broken leg for six hours before receiving medical treatment have avoided jail.

Richard Oneroa, 42, of Masterton, was found guilty of wilful ill-treatment of a child and of wilful neglect in Wellington District Court yesterday. His partner, Noelette Shirley Mason, 43, was found guilty of wilful neglect.

The baby, who has fully recovered, suffered a broken femur and collarbone after Oneroa picked her up by her clothing and dropped her on the floor. It was hours until she received medical treatment.

Judge Andrew Becroft sentenced Oneroa to 10 months' home detention and Mason to six months' community detention and one year's intensive supervision. He refused name suppression.

Oneroa and Mason were asleep on May 26 last year when their daughter woke at 5.20am.

Oneroa reached across Mason to the cot by the bed and grabbed the baby by her clothes to lift her on to the bed. She fell between the cot and the bed to the floor. He then yanked her off the floor on to the bed. He did not tell Mason he had dropped the baby.

Mason noticed the baby's right leg was floppy about 8am. They did not take her to hospital till late in the morning and stopped on the way at a pharmacy to get methadone for their drug-treatment programme.

Judge Becroft said Oneroa clearly felt he needed to hide what had happened from Mason. He had been warned in the past about treating the baby roughly and had told police he "picked her up like a rugby ball".

A factor that went in their favour but did not excuse their behaviour was that the baby did not appear stressed or in great pain. Hospital staff had not seen the need to administer a pain killer stronger than Pamol.

Oneroa had not injured the baby deliberately but had been reckless.

Lawyer Jock Blathwayt said Oneroa accepted what he had done and was greatly distressed. Mason's lawyer, Louise Elder, said that they had lost their child as a result of the incident. Mason had other children, although not with Oneroa, who were fine. With Mason's drug and alcohol addictions, it was not surprising she had difficulties.

- © Fairfax NZ News