A Nelson woman has pleaded guilty to failing to provide the necessaries of life for her son, who died after being beaten and partially paralysed by his stepfather.
Mary Joachim, 28, pleaded guilty on Thursday at the start of her depositions hearing in the Nelson District Court.
Johnny Joachim was jailed for a minimum 18 years for the murder of seven-year-old Duwayne Pailegutu in June last year.
Mary Joachim will next appear in an Auckland court on 9 December when a date for her sentencing will be set.
