The defence has started presenting its case in a jury trial for a man charged with killing his two-year-old step-son.

Tamehana Huata is charged with the manslaughter and injuring with intent to injure Matiu Wereta in his Flaxmere home in October 2015.

The essence of the Crown's evidence presented to the jury in the High Court at Napier, has been that the head injuries which killed Matiu Wereta were caused by multiple blows to the head, not by him falling into a brick wall, as claimed by the defence.

Numerous expert medical witnesses have given evidence for the Crown, saying the severity of the head injuries is similar to those sustained in a major car crash.

The defence told the jury that the injuries were caused by a hyperactive child who catapulted into a small brick wall, after he accidentally tripped on a towel.