Seven years jail for mother who killed baby

A young mother who admitted the manslaughter of her seven-month old baby daughter was jailed for seven years today.

Tracee Leigh Ann Harris, 20, was sentenced to four years for cruelty to a child and seven years for manslaughter by failing to provide the necessaries of life, the sentences to be served concurrently.

Harris had earlier pleaded guilty to both charges.

Baby Kathleen died in late November last year, sometime before arriving at an Otaki medical centre with her mother.

Following the death, a pathologist reported that Kathleen had skull fractures, head injuries, abdominal injuries and a broken arm.

Harris's partner at the time, Blair Murray Antony Williams, 33, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering Kathleen and failing to provide necessities of life and his trial is likely to start on November 28.

Harris showed little emotion as the sentence was passed by Justice Lowell Goddard this morning.

Defence counsel Fergus Steedman told the court that Harris knew she had let Kathleen down and that she was deeply sorry.

She showed courage in her guilty pleas, he said.

But prosecutor Ken Stone said Harris had ample opportunities to obtain the necessary care for Kathleen and any degree of remorse had to be weighed against the facts.

Justice Goddard described the "appallingly abusive behaviour" Kathleen was subjected to over an eight-week period prior to her death.

"You knew she would probably soon die and you still did nothing," Justice Goddard said.

At an earlier depositions hearing it emerged that a doctor, the Plunket Service, a lawyer, Kathleen's natural father Jerone Ngaronoa and Harris' aunt had all contacted Child, Youth and Family with concerns about Kathleen's welfare before her death.

CYF had visited the family's home five times, but on two occasions no one was home and during a third visit, workers did not see Kathleen or Williams.

- NZPA