Michael John Topp at his sentencing for murder in the High Court in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Warning: This story contains content some readers may find distressing.
The grieving mother of an infant girl murdered by her father has told him she will never forgive him for what he has done, the High Court has heard.
Thirty-seven-year-old Michael John Topp was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years, in the High Court at Christchurch on Tuesday by Justice Anne Hinton.
He was found guilty by a jury in May of fatally injuring the 3-month-old alongside two further charges of grievous bodily harm.
The infant, who has permanent name suppression, was rushed to Christchurch Hospital on New Year's Eve 2021 with a severe head injury.
She died two days later.
An autopsy found the baby sustained more than 30 fractures to both legs and her ribs.
Prior head injuries were believed to have been sustained during the same month, consistent with "very violent shaking".
Topp said the baby's death was a case of manslaughter, and he never intended to kill her.
The infant's mother, who also has permanent name suppression, delivered a heart-wrenching victim impact statement during Tuesday's sentence hearing.
The judge had read further victim impact statements from family but these were not read in court.
A photo of her daughter was visible on the High Court display monitor as the mother addressed the court and Topp, who appeared emotionless in the dock.
"No sentence will ever heal the wounds Mike has inflicted on me," she said.
"Nor take back pain that [she] endured until her heart gave out as a result to Mike's actions."
Topp's alleged lack of accountability and remorse were highlighted multiple times by the mother.
The court heard further disturbing details of the man's behaviour in hospital.
After expressing breast milk for her daughter, nurses informed her the milk would need to be disposed of as the infant was now "brain dead" and unable to consume food.
"Mike drunk the milk in front of the nurses and said 'well, she won't need it anymore'."
The mother described the pain of losing her baby as like "my entire world being blown up".
"The pain was accentuated by not understanding how or when she was harmed."
She also explained how her mental health had "taken a hit" following the horrific tragedy.
"I have to give myself a reason to wake up every day, to accept that I may never ever get real answers, to accept I may never get closure.
"Mike took it all from me."
She implored the judge to hold Topp accountable before addressing her former partner directly in closing her remarks.
"Mike, I will never forgive you."
Dad 'abused position of trust'
The court then heard submissions from both the Crown and the defence, where Topp's mental health struggles and inability to cope with parenthood were touched upon.
Justice Hinton addressed the mother and said after assessing all the evidence, that she was an excellent and devoted mother, who could not have suspected what would occur.
The judge also agreed Topp was not "genuinely remorseful" for the killing.
"She should've been safe in your care but she was the complete opposite.
"You abused your position of trust."
In handing the sentence down, Hinton said violence against young children "was regrettably all too common in our society".
"There can be no excuse for abusing a child.
"Your actions must be roundly denounced."