9 Oct 2015

Woman pleads not guilty to baby manslaughter

10:34 am on 9 October 2015

A 38-year-old Hawera woman pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of a six-week-old baby when she appeared in the High Court at New Plymouth this morning.

The woman, who has interim name suppression, also faces a charge of ill-treatment of a child, in relation to the death of the baby in February this year.

Justice Timothy Brewer granted the woman name suppression, on the grounds that her mental state meant there was a likelihood she may harm herself. She will reappear in court in December.