KEY POINTS:
Ten adults who had contact with a South Auckland baby who died in "suspicious" circumstances at the weekend have been co-operative with police, says an investigating officer.
Ten-month-old Jyniah Mary Te Awa died in the Starship hospital at 4pm on Monday. Police have stopped short of saying they are running a murder inquiry but have revealed Jyniah died after receiving a suspicious "non-accidental brain injury".
They would not say what the injury was, but how Jyniah received it is critical to the inquiry.
Several residents spoken to by the Herald around both cordoned-off Manurewa homes in Burbank Ave and Shifnal Drive reported seeing several adults as well as children at both properties. They said the tenants in each home had lived there only about two months and were usually quiet.
A resident of Shifnal Ave, who did not want to be named, said the home was usually empty from Monday to Wednesday each week and only a woman and a child aged about three lived there.
Two men were often at the home.
Detective Senior Sergeant Sue Schwalger said Jyniah was associated with both homes.
One was the family home and the other that of a relative.
An injured Jyniah was carried from the Burbank Ave house by three St John Ambulance paramedics after "becoming unwell" about 10.40am on Sunday.
She was taken to Middlemore Hospital and later transferred to Starship.
Ms Schwalger said between five and 10 adults and several children had been coming and going from the home during the weekend.
"Jyniah was being looked after by a number of family members at the time and all those persons have co-operated and spoken to us ... one of her parents was with her during the weekend from time to time," Ms Schwalger said.
"Police are speaking to everyone who has been in contact with Jyniah over the weekend ... I'm not at this stage willing to talk about the actual persons that were looking after her."
The other children were now being looked after, but it was not known if Child, Youth and Family was involved in the case.
