Two sisters charged with the manslaughter of their baby niece in Carterton in July have been granted bail until a depositions hearing on December 11, on condition that they stay outside Wairarapa.
Judge John Dalmer heard bail submissions in the Masterton District Court yesterday from Wellington barrister Val Nesbitt, acting for Patricia Rachel Namana, 28, and Rongomai Wahine Paewai, 27, and crown prosecutor Ian Murray.
They are charged with the manslaughter of Hinewaoriki Karaitiana-Matiaha and failing to provide her with the necessaries of life. They are also charged with wilfully ill-treating a child and permitting a child to be ill-treated.
Judge Dalmer said the charges alone were not enough to deny bail.
He had noted concerns from police about the public interest, in that a child died in horrific circumstances, but said all other factors were in favour of the defendants.
The possibility the accused might intimidate witnesses was no longer a legitimate consideration because Namana and Paewai were to live outside Wairarapa, and there was a list of about 50 potential crown witnesses they were not allowed to contact.
The case may take six months or more to go to trial.
- NZPA
Pair exiled until hearing
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