Man in court over death of six month-old girl

The man has been charged with two counts of assault after the baby was injured at Raumati Beach and later died. Photo / John Weekes

A man charged after a 6-month-old girl died this week has reappeared at Porirua District Court.

The 31-year-old first appeared in court on Wednesday charged with two counts of assault after the baby was injured at Raumati Beach and later died.

He was granted interim name suppression.

He reappeared this morning where his lawyers argued for a continuation of name suppression, arguing the defendant was in a "vulnerable state" and had yet to tell his family about the charges.

Judge JM Kelly said it was in the interests of open justice and in the public interest to publish the defendant's name.

But the judge said the defendant's second appearance had followed "so quickly" after his first appearance, so she "somewhat reluctantly" allowed interim name suppression to continue.

But suppression would most likely lapse at his next hearing, Judge Kelly said.

He was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on September 2.

No application was made for bail.

The defendant kept his head down for most of the hearing.