A neighbour of the man accused of murdering Christchurch baby Ihaka Stokes says she heard him yell “shut up” at the child just weeks before his death.

Troy Taylor denies murdering the 15-month-old on July 3rd 2015 at their Truman Road home.

The 23-year-old claims his former partner and Ihaka’s mother Mikala Stokes inflicted the boy’s fatal injuries while he wasn’t home.

Neighbour, Angela Marshall, told the High Court at Christchurch of how she was hanging out washing when she heard the child grizzling and the man yelling “shut up” loudly.

She said it worried her– so she looked through a hole in the fence.

Taylor is yet to give evidence, but defence council Phillip Shamy has already hinted he’ll blame the baby’s mother for the 59 injuries the child sustained before his death.