Man charged with baby bashing

James Allan Hemana. Photo / Supplied

A man has been charged with assault over critical injuries suffered by a six-month-old baby.

James Allan Hemana, 30, also known as James Sylva, was found at a house in Te Awamutu, in Waikato early today.

Police said that he would face a charge of assaulting Cezar Taylor and two warrants for his arrest when he appeared in court at Te Awamutu later today.

Cezar, the son of Hemana's partner, was admitted to Auckland's Starship Hospital with severe head injuries on Friday morning after an alleged incident at his home in Mangere East.

He remained in a critical but stable condition surrounded by his family.

Detective Senior Sergeant Richard Wilkie said three women at the house where Hemana was found were also being spoken to by police.

He said yesterday that Cezar's injuries were consistent with "shaking and blunt force trauma, which is a blow to the head" and appeared to have happened over a period of time.

- NZPA