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Hamilton man Mathew Ellery - Source: ONE News -
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The 21-year-old charged with murdering Ngaruawahia infant Serenity Jay Scott is due to appear in court today.
Hamilton man Mathew Ellery is accused of the infant's murder. He was denied bail following an appearance in court on January 30.
Serenity died from critical injuries at Starship Hospital just two days after being found unresponsive at her Havelock Rd home in April last year.
Police and medical staff who treated the infant at Auckland's Starship Hospital believed her injuries were consistent with shaken baby syndrome.
Ellery was shaking and in tears by the end of his appearance.
He is yet to enter a plea and is to undergo a psychiatric assessment.
The court was told he needs psychological help because he is having trouble dealing with the allegations.
Community magistrate Sue Hovell denied Ellery's bail, saying there was too much of a risk he would interfere with witnesses. It is alleged he has spent months trying to convince people he was not involved.
Ellery's grandparents were his only support in the public gallery yesterday, and would not comment.
Serenity's mother Chelsea Scott, 21, was also emotional after facing her former boyfriend in court.
Scott had a daughter with Ellery on January 6 this year, however the child was removed from their care by Child, Youth and Family about 48 hours later.
Ellery was not Serenity's biological father. He is also father to a 2-year-old Hamilton boy.
Friends of Ellery described him as "unpredictable" following Serenity's death last year, while another said despite his "short fuse" she had not known him to be violent toward children.
They said Ellery led a transient life, moving around the Waikato as a child, attending Hauraki Plains College, and was eventually brought up by his Hamilton-based grandparents.
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