A six month-old baby was referred to as "zombie boy'' after being held upside down, violently shaken and dropped on a bed, the Crown says.
James Hemana has denied murdering baby Cezar Taylor but pleaded guilty to failing to provide the necessaries of life.
Cezar was taken to Middlemore Hospital with severe brain injuries and died five days later on July 28, 2010.
Crown prosecutor Josh Shaw opened the Crown case this morning and told the court that Hemana's cousin took two photographs of Cezar on her mobile phone, days before he was admitted to hospital.
"He was constantly vomiting, barely awake and his eyes would roll. He was referred to as `zombie boy','' Mr Shaw said.
He said Hemana was living with Cezar's mother in Mangere and was jealous of the six-month old. He would also get angry when the baby would cry.
Mr Shaw said that on one occasion, Cezar was crying and woke Hemana, who yelled and swore at the baby.
Hemana is alleged to have grabbed the baby by the front of his clothes.
"He violently punches him back and forth repeatedly before dropping him on to the bed.''
Mr Shaw said Hemana also picked Cezar up by one leg and again violently shook him before dropping him on the bed.
He said Cezar's mother, Victoria Taylor, tried to intervene. Hemana is alleged to have told her: "I don't give a ****, *****. I'll waste all of yous''.
Mr Shaw said Ms Taylor described her son as a "very different baby'' after the two incidents.
"Most of the time he was effectively lifeless and unresponsive.''
He read from a statement from Ms Taylor: "Before he was alert. He would talk away, watch TV. Now he just sits there and rolls his eyes. He looked like a dog and just sat there.''
It was about five days later that Ms Taylor took her son to hospital. Mr Shaw said she was prevented from going earlier by Hemana.
He said Hemana did not go to the hospital with Ms Taylor, told her not to mention him and to say bruises on the baby's head were caused by bumps and falls.
"In short, in anger and frustration, he gambled with Cezar's life and ultimately took his life.''
Hemana's lawyer Steve Bonnar said his client admitted shaking Cezar but said he was not guilty of murder.
"He's done a terrible thing - he's caused the death of a child.''
But he said Hemana did not know at the time that what he did was likely to kill the baby.
"I have no doubt this is the most hated man in the courtroom. The air is thick with prejudice but... do as her honour has asked and keep an open mind.''
The jury of six men and six women is set to hear from 54 witnesses over the next two weeks.
The trial continues.
TIMELINE
January 21: Baby Cezar is born to 20-year-old Victoria Taylor.
May 21: Ms Taylor, her younger sister and James Hemana move in to a house in Mangere
July 6: First shaking incident.
July 13: Second shaking incident
July 23: Baby Cezar admitted to hospital
July 28: Baby Cezar dies 10 minutes after life support is turned off. The same day, police locate and arrest Hemana.
