A man is facing trial for the murder of a 14-week-old baby in Tauranga.

Surender Singh Mehrok​, 24, is charged with murder over the June 2016 death of Richard Royal Orif Takahi Winiata Uddin​.

The trial began in the High Court at Hamilton today, before Justice Christine Gordon.

Mehrok pleaded not guilty before the jury of seven women and five men, who were sworn in for the trial.

'This is a retrial,” Justice Gordon told the jury. 'It's not necessary to go into the reason why it's a retrial. That is irrelevant to your task.”

She warned jurors that decisions on the case should be based only on information heard in the courtroom.

The case is about the allegation of murder of a 14-week-old child, she said, but the jurors need to set emotion aside and look at the facts.

Mehrok has an interpreter to assist him during the case, as English is a second language for him.

The court also heard that some expert medical witnesses are overseas, and will give evidence through audiovisual link.

The trial is set down for two weeks.

Libby Wilson/Stuff.