Missing young girls Lily and Pearl found, judge says case a ‘tragedy’ as woman appears in court

The Wellington District Court. Photo / File

A judge described a case where a woman is accused of breaching a parenting order and sparking a public hunt for two young girls as “a tragedy”.

Police overnight put out an urgent appeal for help to find the two girls, Lily, 10, and Pearl, 8, who they alleged had been taken on Christmas Eve in breach of a parenting order and hadn’t been seen since 11pm on Monday, January 2, at a South Auckland petrol station.

They were found this morning with help from members of the public in the west Auckland suburb of Henderson.

Senior Sergeant Kevan Verry said information from the public helped located the pair and that people at a Henderson address were “assisting police with our inquiries”.

”The girls are safe and well and will be returned to family who are extremely relieved at this news,” Verry said.

”The people at the address where they were found are assisting Police with our inquiries. I am extremely relieved that the girls are safe and well.

“This is an example of community and Police working together and I am really appreciative of the public’s help which has led to us locating the girls.”

Police were seeking sightings of this Toyota Camry, registration CLR45, in relation to the disappearance of Pearl, 8, and Lily, 10. Photo / NZ Police

The woman appeared in the Wellington District Court today, charged with deliberately absconding with the two children to avoid them being placed with the court-directed caregiver.

Judge A Nicholls, who presided over the hearing, described the case as “a tragedy”.

The woman faces up to three months in prison and a $2500 fine if convicted. She was granted interim name suppression and was remanded in custody until her next court appearance in a fortnight.