Woman, 18, arrested after death of 2-year-old in Hamilton appears in court

An 18-year-old woman charged with murder after the death of a 2-year-old in Hamilton has appeared in court.

The teen, who was granted interim name suppression, was supported in the Hamilton District Court this afternoon by her parents, who were in the public gallery.

The child died in hospital on Saturday, April 9, after the occupants of a vehicle flagged down a police patrol car in Heaphy Tce seeking help with an unresponsive child.

A scene examination was done at the child’s home and an autopsy was conducted.

The woman’s application for bail, which was opposed by police, was granted by Judge Robert Spear but with multiple conditions, including a 24-hour curfew, not to contact three people, and to surrender her passport.

She was remanded without plea to a Bay of Plenty property to reappear in the High Court at Hamilton next week.

Police earlier acknowledged the death was a tragedy but were unable to comment further while the case was before the courts.