Coroner’s inquest examines death of Tauranga toddler Sadie-Leigh Gardner
An inquest is investigating how 17-month-old Sadie-Leigh Gardner died from blunt force head injuries in 2019.
Sadie-Leigh Gardner died on 29 March 2019 at Starship Children's Hospital from blunt force head injuries described as non-accidental. A pathologist told the inquest there was no scenario where she could have sustained such injuries without another person's involvement. Her stepdad was acquitted of her murder, and both he and her mother have given evidence at the inquest denying they were responsible for the fatal injuries.
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Coverage across the news outlets we track, as at publication.
What outlets are saying
RNZ
Tauranga toddler Sadie-Leigh Gardner was 'incredibly loved', mum says at inquest into her death
Sadie-Leigh died at just 17 months old after what a pathologist described as "non-accidental" blunt force head injuries.
NZ Herald
Coroner’s inquest begins into death of Tauranga toddler Sadie-Leigh Gardner
Sadie-Leigh Gardner died from head injuries. Her stepdad was acquitted of her murder.
NZ Herald
Sadie-Leigh inquest hears evidence about severe head injuries
Sadie-Leigh died when she was just 17-months-old from blunt force head injuries.
RNZ
Toddler died after 'very significant level of force', inquest told
There was no scenario where Sadie-Leigh Gardner was able to sustain her injuries without anyone else involved, says a
NZ Herald
Sadie-Leigh inquest hears from neighbour who often cared for the toddler
A neighbour has helped piece together a timeline of the day Sadie-Leigh died.
Newstalk ZB
Sadie-Leigh inquest hears from neighbour who often cared for the toddler
A neighbour of Sadie-Leigh Gardner broke down in tears as she tried to recall events and timings before the toddler lay unresponsive on her flat floor.
RNZ
Mother tells inquest she did not cause her toddler's fatal head injury
Seventeen-month-old Sadie-Leigh Gardner died on 29 March 2019 in Starship Children's Hospital from blunt force head injuries.
NZ Herald
Inquest into death of Tauranga toddler Sadie-Leigh hears from the child’s mother
Sadie-Leigh Gardner was 17 months old when she died in 2019.
Newstalk ZB
Inquest into death of Tauranga toddler Sadie-Leigh hears from the child’s mother
A mother denies calling her daughter, Sadie-Leigh Gardner, names, yelling at her and being “at breaking point” in the time before the 17-month-old died of traumatic head injuries.
RNZ
Stepfather of Tauranga todder found fatally injured gives evidence at inquest
Both her mother and stepfather say they were not the last person to check on Sadie-Leigh Gardner in her cot before she was found fatally injured.
NZ Herald
Sadie-Leigh Gardner inquest: Acquitted Adrian Clancy says he got police timeline wrong
Adrian Clancy gave evidence for the first time following the death of Sadie-Leigh Gardner.