Baby for man who harmed daughter | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

A Christchurch man jailed for causing grievous bodily harm to his three-month-old daughter has fathered another child.

Christopher Dean Matthews’ son was born in late November.

Matthews, 32, a former New Zealand indoor bowls champion, is seven months into a two years and nine months jail sentence after pleading guilty to an assault on his three-month-old daughter, Caitlyn, in 2005.

He had shaken the baby.

Caitlyn has brain damage and is now cared for by Matthews’ parents, Bevan and Kay Matthews.

The mother of the new baby, Matthews’ current partner Keri Hanifin, has taken the baby to see him in prison.

Miss Hanifin, 29, told The Star yesterday she was unsure whether she and Matthews and their child would be able to live together as a family when he was released.

He is believed to be eligible for parole in May.

Miss Hanifin said that she had "no problems" that Matthews would be a good father to their son.

"I trust him very much with our child. All I can say is he is doing his time. I am looking forward to me and him being a family and him to sort out everything he has to," Miss Hanifin said.

"Even if he is living with me or not, I will help him to bond with our son.

"I trust him and I feel comfortable with him."

Police arrested Matthews after Caitlyn, who is now four years old, was admitted to Christchurch Hospital with seizures in September, 2005.

Doctors did not expect her to live.

She was sent to Starship Hospital in Auckland and was found to have chronic subdural haemorrhages on both sides of her brain, as well as retinal haemorrhage.

Caitlyn's mother, Matthews' former partner, Natasha Hening, admitted to police she had seen Matthews shake Caitlyn. Matthews pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with reckless disregard for safety and one amended charge of assault on a child five days into his trial early last year.

He was sentenced in June.

His first trial, in October, 2007, was declared a mistrial.

Hening was sentenced to 18 months in prison for failing to provide the necessities of life.

Matthews and Miss Hanifin met in 2008 after Matthews had already been charged.

Miss Hanifin said Matthews was "open and honest" about the charges from the beginning of their relationship.

Matthews' pre-sentence report said there was a low risk he would re-offend.

Matthews' sister and the Plunket nurse who had visited Caitlyn after her birth said Matthews was a caring father.

Police said Matthews' actions were close to homicide.

Miss Hanifin said Matthews was willing to "give it a try and be a good father" to their son, and she wanted them to have a relationship. "I'd rather they bond together rather than be pushed apart," she said.

The new baby is the couple's only child together.

Matthews' parents declined to comment.