Baby-death blast for police

As the middle-aged parents of a 12-month-old drank through an autumn night at a 21st birthday party in Huntly, their baby was left to sleep in a car and died alone in the early hours of the morning.

The tragic evidence was heard yesterday before Huntly coroner Bob McDermott, who blasted the police handling of the case and "gross lack of care" the parents had shown towards the infant.

Born on March 25, 2000, Rangimaria Chelsea Kanawa died on April 14, 2001.

The pathologist's report described her as an "apparently healthy infant" whose sudden death "possibly resulted from a combination of events including respiratory obstructions and underlying lung infection or bronchiolitis".

An inquest was not held until yesterday because of police and Crown Law Office delays, a lack of evidence and the file being lost. No prosecution has ever been laid against anyone involved.

"It appears the initial scene should have been treated as a crime scene and would have shown whether any charges should have been laid," Mr McDermott said.

"I was initially informed by the police there was likely to be a prosecution in this matter, which would mean I need not hold an inquest."

Five months after the death, in September 2001, Mr McDermott wrote to police asking for a decision but heard nothing.

He wrote again two months later asking for the file.

"I was advised that the Crown Law Office had recommended no prosecution under the Crimes Act - for lack of evidence - and that it was too late to lay a charge under the Summary Proceedings Act, as six months had expired since the death of the baby and 'this would have only entailed a fine of $2000 anyway'."

Mr McDermott told the court: "I find that [last] statement extraordinary."

He also found inconsistencies in witness evidence put before him yesterday, "due, I think, to an attempt from the witnesses to reconstruct events in a favourable light for themselves".

Rangimaria's father, Terrence Maniopoto, told the coroner's court the night of her death had been "chilly and raining".

It was decided to put her down in the back seat of the car because it was noisy inside the house, and she had slept in the car before.

Another witness, Tammy Uerata, said she invited Rangimaria's mother, Monica Te Mohika Kanawa, to put her baby next to her own in a bedroom, but got the reply that it (the baby) would be all right sleeping in the car.

Ms Kanawa told the court she began the evening drinking raspberry, but later moved on to beer. She and Mr Maniopoto slept for a time in the car with another child, but at 5am she woke up and Mr Maniopoto was not there. She found him drinking in a shed with two other men.

She did not return to the car and later, when someone at the house asked if they could borrow her car, she told them to check the baby before driving off.

That person, Ms Uerata, took the car at 7am to get cigarettes and make a phone call. Before leaving, Mr Maniopoto checked Rangimaria through the back window and Ms Uerata turned on the inside light to help him see.

"We just looked at her and didn't touch her," Ms Uerata said.

She drove to a service station and phone booth and later returned. "I gave the car keys and smokes to Monica."

The mother asked if the baby was all right and Ms Uerata said she was still asleep.

Mr Maniapoto checked Rangimaria a short time later and found her blue and cold.

Constable Raymond Sunkel gave evidence that he was called to the address but was told to wait until Sergeant Leonard Fox arrived at the scene as it was potentially one of tension and confusion, and being a European policeman he could add to that tension.

Mr Fox, who has now left the police, described the scene as one of "much grief and some tension".

He noticed a heavy smell of alcohol as he spoke to the dead baby's parents.