KEY POINTS:
Police have arrested and charged a 24-year-old woman, following the death of an 11-week-old infant in Starship Hospital on New Year's day.
She has been charged with failing to provide "the necessities of life" for baby Tahani Mahomed.
The charge relates only to the malnourished condition of baby Tahani when she died, and not to the injuries which caused her death.
The woman will appear in the Manukau District Court on Wednesday 23 January 2007.
A post-mortem analysis revealed baby Tahani Mahomed died of severe head injuries including a skull fracture, brain haemorrhaging, and retinal haemorrhaging, which ultimately led to her death.
The examination also revealed a number of older injuries she had suffered during her short life.
Police have established that baby Tahani's parents were her only care-givers up until the stage she was admitted to hospital on 28 December last year.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Lynch said that baby Tahani's parents were no longer co-operating with the enquiry.
He also revealed the injuries were suffered by baby Tahani on at least three occasions.
The head injuries which led to her death are being treated as child abuse.
Detective Senior Sergeant Lynch said the parents were now considered the main persons of interest in the case.
Tahina's parents, aged 29 and 24, are understood to be Muslims from India.
Mr Lynch said one of the parents was in New Zealand on a student visa.
The investigation is continuing.
-NZ HERALD STAFF
