26 May 2020

Homicide inquiry over death of 1yo child in Auckland

4:02 pm on 26 May 2020

Counties Manukau police have launched a homicide investigation over the death of a one year old in South Auckland at the weekend.

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Emergency services were called to a Clover Park property late on Saturday night and despite attempts, failed to revive the child.

Detective Inspector Tofilau Fa'amanuia Va'aelua of Counties Manukau Police said a post-mortem had been carried out and a team of detectives was investigating.

No-one has been arrested or charged.

The police and operators in overalls were at the house on Flatbush Road in Clover Park this morning doing checks and talking to neighbours.

Albert Vahaakola, who lives close by, said there were police who had just finished another job down the road Saturday night and he saw them doing CPR on the driveway.

"I heard the person that's over there calling out to the police, like 'can you come and give us some help' and before you knew it, I looked over, the police was actually checking them over as well as applying some CPR," he said.

He said there were people congregating last night likely paying respect and the police were keeping things in order.

Vahaakola said a young couple have been living in the house and it's sad what has happened.

Another neighbour, Kahlyn Dunn, said he didn't hear anything unusual on the night.

"They seem like just a normal family around this area. I didn't really expect anything like that to happen. Yeah, a big surprise," he said.