Mourners carry Sachin Dhani's coffin in June. Photo / Michael Craig
Mourners carry Sachin Dhani's coffin in June. Photo / Michael Craig
KEY POINTS:
The name of a man charged with murdering a toddler in Auckland earlier this year will be kept from the public for at least two days.
The 35-year-old plumber was today charged by police with murdering Sachin Dhani, aged 16 months, who died of head injuries at Auckland'sStarship Hospital on June 21.
He made a brief appearance at Auckland District Court late today, where he was remanded in custody until Wednesday.
Judge Emma Aitken granted the man interim name suppression until Wednesday because of possible damage to his young children and parents if his name was published.
The accused's lawyer Maria Pecotic said an application for continued name suppression and for bail would be made when he reappears on Wednesday. Police indicated they would oppose both.
Police found Sachin, from Mt Wellington, 13km southeast of downtown Auckland, badly injured after stopping a car being driven erratically on June 19.
A post-mortem examination showed Sachin died from blunt-force trauma to the head.
The charge was laid after what Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Beard described as a difficult inquiry in which complex issues arose.
"We've spent 3-1/2 months on the investigation working very hard and it is satisfying to make an arrest at this stage," he said outside court this evening.
"Child abuse cases are very complex and we had to work through a number of issues that have been difficult to deal with."
Mr Beard said there had been "reasonably good co-operation" from the family.
"I've spoken to the family today and they're relieved but of course nothing that we can do will ever bring Sachin back."
