Inquest Details Emerge in Death of Baby Poseidyn Hemopo-Pickering
A coroner’s inquest is underway in New Zealand to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of 10-month-old Poseidyn Hemopo-Pickering, who died in September 2020 after being rushed to hospital with critical injuries. The inquest has revealed details about the parents’ struggles with methamphetamine use, a fractured relationship, and conflicting accounts of the events leading up to the tragedy.
Timeline of Events
On September 5, 2020, Poseidyn was found unresponsive at his home in Manurewa, South Auckland. He was initially taken to Middlemore Hospital and later transferred to Starship Children’s Hospital, where he died a few hours later. His father, Anthony Simon Pickering, was previously acquitted of murder in 2022 after a jury trial [1, 2]. The current inquest aims to establish how Poseidyn died, not to assign criminal or civil liability.
Parents’ Relationship and Drug Use
Poseidyn’s mother, Filoi Huakau, testified that she and Pickering had a tumultuous relationship marked by domestic abuse and poor communication. She described a pattern of presenting a happy facade to the outside world while experiencing significant “brokenness” behind closed doors [1]. Both parents were heavy methamphetamine users, with Huakau continuing to use the drug even during her pregnancy with Poseidyn.
The Day of the Incident
The inquest heard that on the day of Poseidyn’s injuries, Huakau left the family home for approximately 16 minutes to purchase cooking oil. Pickering was alone with Poseidyn and the couple’s 2-year-old daughter. Pickering stated that he was playing a video game when Poseidyn, who was sleeping nearby, woke up and began crying. He described a brief “scuffle” and a “donk” sound, but did not witness the specific event that caused the baby’s injuries [1].
Pickering testified that he gave his daughter a “small whack on the bum” after she began crying as well. He then held Poseidyn until the baby fell back asleep, reporting that he noticed nothing unusual about the child’s condition at the time.
Conflicting Accounts and Investigation
Huakau initially told police and medical staff that Poseidyn was breathing normally when she returned home, but later told the court she lied to protect Pickering. A relative of Poseidyn, Rodney Thompson, initially told police that Pickering confessed to hitting the baby, but later admitted he lied, stating he wanted “someone to be responsible” [3].
Medical experts have testified that Poseidyn’s head injuries were severe, non-accidental, and caused by a “very large amount of force,” and that a 2-year-old would not have been capable of inflicting such injuries [1].
Ongoing Inquest
The inquest continues, with Coroner Tracey Fitzgibbon presiding over the proceedings. The purpose of the inquiry is to determine the facts surrounding Poseidyn’s death, not to assign blame.