The woman accused of abducting a 5-day-old baby from Middlemore Hospital can now be named.
Loni Marsh - who spent her 27th birthday in custody today - and Faatiga Joe Manutui, 31, appeared in Manukau District Court this morning charged with kidnapping.
Manutui pleaded not guilty and elected trial by jury. He was remanded on bail and will be back before the court next month. Marsh was remanded in custody without plea until later this month.
Elsje Pretorius gave birth to Nadine, her third daughter, on September 20. The pair returned to Middlemore days later with complications.
About 8pm on September 25, just after visiting hours had finished and family members had left, Mrs Pretorius had a quick shower while Nadine was sleeping. Her hospital room had an ensuite and she was just metres away. When she got out of the shower, the baby was gone.
