KEY POINTS:
A woman whose baby drowned after she allegedly abandoned it in bush near Parua Bay, near Whangarei, will stand trial in November.
The crown alleges the 31-year-old woman, who has name suppression, left the 18-month-old girl in dense bush off Te Rongo Rd on or about March 7 this year.
The baby was later found lying face down in a pool of water.
The woman is charged with manslaughter.
When she appeared before Justice Pamela Andrews in the High Court at Whangarei yesterday, her trial was set down for November 26. The trial is expected to take two weeks.
Chief High Court Judge Tony Randerson has ordered the case be given priority because of its nature.
Justice Andrews will rule on whether the woman's name will remain suppressed on Monday. The woman was further remanded on bail to appear for a pre-trial hearing on November 15.
- NZPA
