A MAN who was allegedly caring for a six-month-old boy who died from traumatic head injuries at New Lambton last year has denied causing his death and will likely face a trial in Newcastle in 2021. Jie William Smith, 29, appeared in Sydney Supreme Court on Friday where he was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter.
The matter was adjourned until August 21 to determine the availability of courtrooms at Newcastle Supreme Court in 2021.
Emergency services were called to a home in Fairfield Avenue, New Lambton, about 4.30am on February 9, 2019, after the boy, who was allegedly in the care of Mr Smith, went into cardiac arrest. He died the next day.
The mother of the six-month-old boy - who had been behind bars charged with failing to provide for child causing danger of death, concealing a child abuse offence and doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice - had all charges relating to the boy's death dropped in March.
