Charge laid over child's death

Sahara Baker-Koro. Photo / Supplied

A man has been charged with manslaughter in relation to the death of a five-year-old Napier girl in December.

Sahara Baker-Koro was found dead in her Napier home on December 21 last year.

Police said Kerry Ratana, 24, was due to appear in Napier District Court tomorrow. He currently faces one charge of sexual violation of the child after a charge of assault was dropped.

Ratana will face the new manslaughter charge when he appears in court tomorrow.

During Ratana's appearance in court on January 12 on the sexual violation charge, the family of Sahara were restrained by police and court security staff after an outburst.

They were heard yelling "You sick f**k, I will f**king kill you. That's my daughter."

The appearance had to be briefly adjourned because of the outburst and Judge Geoff Rea said if there was anyone else who thought they could not emotionally cope with the proceedings, they should remove themselves from court, "otherwise I will have to take action".

Ratana was remanded in custody without plea until February 2.

- NZPA, NZ Herald staff