The accused, in his 30s, appeared in Manukau District Court yesterday and was remanded in custody.
Name suppression for the man and child continues, with the next court appearance on February 5.
Police are canvassing an Auckland street and seeking security footage after a man was charged with murdering a child and driving the body to the Manukau Police Station.
Residents of the quiet South Auckland street told the Herald police had been knocking on their doors asking for home surveillance footage from late Sunday night.
The accused man, aged in his 30s, appeared in the Manukau District Court on Monday afternoon, just across the road from the station where police said he arrived and spoke to officers early yesterday morning, leading to the discovery of the child’s body outside in a parked car.
Police say he was known to the child and their family. Details about the child, including age, gender, ethnicity and cause of death, are suppressed.
After the grisly discovery, police cordoned off a silver Nissan sedan parked in Barrowcliffe Pl, directly outside the entrance to the Manukau Police Station.
Police canvassing the street of the man accused of murdering a child and bringing them to the Manukau Police Station. Photo / Raphael Franks
Court documents state police are alleging he murdered the child on Sunday in East Tāmaki, an industrial area.
He was listed as living in another South Auckland suburb.
Police have told residents on a street linked to the accused they were investigating a “serious incident” but would not reveal any more details.
Residents told the Herald the police officers who visited their homes said they were canvassing the area and asked for any security footage from Sunday night.
After the grisly discovery early Monday, police cordoned off a silver Nissan sedan parked in Barrowcliffe Pl, directly outside the entrance to the Manukau Police Station. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Residents near a property linked to the accused said they had never heard any incidents of concern at the property, nor had they seen police officers on the street before.
Some residents said they had seen a mother, father and child at the address. They had also seen an older woman, who one neighbour understood to be the grandmother and mother-in-law.
Tearful family members of the defendant were in the public gallery when the accused appeared in court. The man, appearing distraught, gestured to his family during the hearing.
Judge Tahana remanded the man in custody without plea until his next appearance, scheduled for February 5 in the High Court at Auckland. Suppression of his name and that of the child will continue until then at least.
Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.
Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
