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Police say they were wrong to say an 11-week-old baby, whose parents have been charged in connection with her death, had not gained any weight since her birth but say she was still "extremely undernourished".
The parents of Tahani Mahomed - Tabbasum Mahomed, 24, and Azees Mahomed, 29 - appeared in Manukau District Court yesterday, charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life and wilful cruelty.
Tahani was admitted to Middlemore Hospital on December 28 with head injuries and died on New Year's Day at Auckland's Starship Hospital.
Counties-Manukau CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Lynch today said information given to the media on January 4 that Tahani had not gained "any" weight since her birth was wrong.
Police had relied on information from medical documents , which detailed her birth weight, he said.
"The correct position is that Baby Tahani had put on approximately 0.6 of a kilogram from birth, up until her admission to hospital.
"This does not change the fact that Baby Tahani is still alleged to have been extremely undernourished upon her admission to hospital, and will in no way affect the charge laid against Mr and Mrs Mahomed alleging that they failed to supply her with the necessaries of life with regard to her nourishment."
Tahani's mother was arrested on New Year's Day and was charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life.
On Tuesday police arrested Tahani's father and jointly charged the South African-born couple.
The joint charge of failing to provide the necessaries of life relates to the alleged malnourished condition of Tahani when she was admitted to hospital on December 28.
The second joint charge of wilful cruelty relates to an incident on December 19 where Tahani was alleged to have been left alone in a car for a period of time in humid conditions.
Post mortem examinations showed Tahani died of a skull fracture and numerous other injuries.
The couple have been remanded on bail and will next appear in court on March 5.
- NZPA
