Murder charge laid over toddler's death

The Kaitaia home was still cordoned off yesterday as police continued their scene examination. Photo / Richard Robinson

The Northland woman whose toddler died of serious head injuries has been charged with murder.

The woman also faces a charge of assault but cannot be named after having her interim name suppression continued in the Auckland District Court this morning.

She stood in the dock wiping tears from her eyes and briefly waved to supporters in the public gallery.

The 34 year-old will next appear in the Kaitaia District Court on September 9.

Outside court, the woman's lawyer Belinda Sellers said the woman was "cooperating" with police.

The woman's two year-old daughter died in Auckland's Starship Hospital on August 8 after being flown from Kaitaia Hospital.

A friend of the girl's father told the Herald earlier this month that police had told him the girl had head injuries.

Desmond Simeon described the girl as cute.

Another family friend said the girl's mother suffered from postnatal depression and had other problems after the girl was born.

The couple's other children are in the custody of Child, Youth and Family.