Friend of hurt tot happy at outcome

A man who helped to get a toddler removed from her parents' home over concern for her safety is relieved the girl's grandmother has admitted she later seriously abused the child.

Yesterday in the Whangarei District Court, a weeping 52-year-old woman pleaded guilty to charges of grievous bodily harm, wilful ill-treatment, and endangering the life of the toddler. She was remanded in custody for sentencing in December.

The charges related to the woman's assault on her grandchild on July 29 in her Whangarei home, and her omission to supply the child with the necessaries of life over 17 days leading up to the assault.

The child, then aged 28 months, was admitted to hospital in a coma with severe head injuries, a broken arm, cuts, bruises and cigarette burns to her body.

She was transferred to the critical care unit of the Starship children's hospital in Auckland and was discharged a week ago into the care of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services (CYFS).

The Weekend Herald is not naming the grandmother or the child because the background to the incident involves the outcome of a family group conference.

Graeme Hyslop, of Palmerston North, who first reported the child to CYFS, said yesterday that he was pleased the grandmother had admitted the charges. "I'm pleased she has owned up because it's her fault. I have no sympathy at all. They can throw away the keys."

Mr Hyslop said he and a friend, Liz Tepapa, had first raised concerns over the child's safety when she lived with her parents. "We used to look after the wee girl a lot. There was no physical abuse from the parents ... but the mental side."

He contacted CYFS in February "for the sake of the child" but did not know she had ended up with her grandmother.



Mr Hyslop said it was worrying that the child had been harmed since she was referred to CYFS, which had placed her with the abuser.

But he would not hesitate to try again to protect any other baby he thought might be in trouble.

He had helped to teach the child to talk and walk.

"She was always a happy child and easy to look after. We loved her."



Liz Tepapa said it had been important to get the child away from her parents.

"They were always partying and [the child] was always in the middle of it all surrounded by grown-ups.

I'm not running them down or anything, but I would have done anything for her."












Head1: ss35Friend of

hurt tot

happy at

outcome


Body1:

A man who helped to get a toddler removed from her parents' home over concern for her safety is relieved the girl's grandmother has admitted she later seriously abused the child.

Yesterday in the Whangarei District Court, a weeping 52-year-old woman pleaded guilty to charges of grievous bodily harm, wilful ill-treatment, and endangering the life of the toddler. She was remanded in custody for sentencing in December.

The charges related to the woman's assault on her grandchild on July 29 in her Whangarei home, and her omission to supply the child with the necessaries of life over 17 days leading up to the assault.

The child, then aged 28 months, was admitted to hospital in a coma with severe head injuries, a broken arm, cuts, bruises and cigarette burns to her body.

She was transferred to the critical care unit of the Starship children's hospital in Auckland and was discharged a week ago into the care of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services (CYFS).

The Weekend Herald is not naming the grandmother or the child because the background to the incident involves the outcome of a family group conference.

Graeme Hyslop, of Palmerston North, who first reported the child to CYFS, said yesterday that he was pleased the grandmother had admitted the charges. "I'm pleased she has owned up because it's her fault. I have no sympathy at all. They can throw away the keys."

Mr Hyslop said he and a friend, Liz Tepapa, had first raised concerns over the child's safety when she lived with her parents. "We used to look after the wee girl a lot. There was no physical abuse from the parents ... but the mental side."

He contacted CYFS in February "for the sake of the child" but did not know she had ended up with her grandmother.



Mr Hyslop said it was worrying that the child had been harmed since she was referred to CYFS, which had placed her with the abuser.

But he would not hesitate to try again to protect any other baby he thought might be in trouble.

He had helped to teach the child to talk and walk.

"She was always a happy child and easy to look after. We loved her."



Liz Tepapa said it had been important to get the child away from her parents.

"They were always partying and [the child] was always in the middle of it all surrounded by grown-ups.

I'm not running them down or anything, but I would have done anything for her."












Head1: ss35Friend of

hurt tot

happy at

outcome


Body1:

A man who helped to get a toddler removed from her parents' home over concern for her safety is relieved the girl's grandmother has admitted she later seriously abused the child.

Yesterday in the Whangarei District Court, a weeping 52-year-old woman pleaded guilty to charges of grievous bodily harm, wilful ill-treatment, and endangering the life of the toddler. She was remanded in custody for sentencing in December.

The charges related to the woman's assault on her grandchild on July 29 in her Whangarei home, and her omission to supply the child with the necessaries of life over 17 days leading up to the assault.

The child, then aged 28 months, was admitted to hospital in a coma with severe head injuries, a broken arm, cuts, bruises and cigarette burns to her body.

She was transferred to the critical care unit of the Starship children's hospital in Auckland and was discharged a week ago into the care of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services (CYFS).

The Weekend Herald is not naming the grandmother or the child because the background to the incident involves the outcome of a family group conference.

Graeme Hyslop, of Palmerston North, who first reported the child to CYFS, said yesterday that he was pleased the grandmother had admitted the charges. "I'm pleased she has owned up because it's her fault. I have no sympathy at all. They can throw away the keys."

Mr Hyslop said he and a friend, Liz Tepapa, had first raised concerns over the child's safety when she lived with her parents. "We used to look after the wee girl a lot. There was no physical abuse from the parents ... but the mental side."

He contacted CYFS in February "for the sake of the child" but did not know she had ended up with her grandmother.



Mr Hyslop said it was worrying that the child had been harmed since she was referred to CYFS, which had placed her with the abuser.

But he would not hesitate to try again to protect any other baby he thought might be in trouble.

He had helped to teach the child to talk and walk.

"She was always a happy child and easy to look after. We loved her."



Liz Tepapa said it had been important to get the child away from her parents.

"They were always partying and [the child] was always in the middle of it all surrounded by grown-ups.

I'm not running them down or anything, but I would have done anything for her."

Herald Online feature: violence at home

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