Man charged with abusing daughter back in court

File photo / NZH

A west Auckland man accused of assaulting his nine-year-old daughter in a high-profile abuse case was back in court today.

The man, 32, whose name is suppressed, reappeared in Waitakere District Court today for a post-committal conference facing three charges of assaulting the girl - two of using a weapon, namely a vacuum cleaner pipe and a broomstick.

He was remanded in custody to reappear in Auckland District Court on March 29.

Police said the man had applied for bail this week and the application was likely to be revisited next week.

The girl's mother is also in custody, facing 33 charges against her daughter.

They include assault on the girl with a machete and hammer; kicking her in the vaginal area while wearing work boots; tearing her toenail off and pouring salt on the bleeding toe; writing abusive comments on her body; immersing her in a hot bath in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering; denying her medical treatment and withholding food.

She is also accused of assaulting her seven-year-old son with an unknown object, and dragging him around by his neck.

The girl was found hiding in a cupboard, starving, dehydrated and covered in countless injuries.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett ordered an investigation into Child, Youth and Family and other agencies' interactions with the family and the child.

- NZPA