Woman admits killing toddler

A Rotorua woman has admitted killing a toddler put in her care by Child, Youth and Family.

Sasha Vyani Pene, 29, appeared in the Rotorua District Court on Wednesday before Justices of the Peace Mary Burge and Ron Hope.

She admitted the manslaughter of the 1-year-old boy, who died at the family home in Edmund Rd on June 5, as well as a representative charge of assaulting him between April 9 and June 5.

A representative charge means the offences occurred more than once.

In the dock, Pene hung her head and often wiped away tears. Her guilty plea was whispered.

Rotorua Crown Solicitor Fletcher Pilditch withdrew a charge of injuring with intent to injure.

Mr Hope told Pene he was pleased with her plea. "I think you made an excellent decision," he said.

Pene was bailed to a Kaitaia address for a callover on February 4, when a date will be set for sentencing.

A Child, Youth and Family spokeswoman said it was not appropriate to comment until after Pene was sentenced.

The toddler cannot be named, because of a suppression order. He was found dead at the house where Pene lived with her partner, who is the dead boy's uncle, and their two children, aged 7 and 1.

After the court hearing, the officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Loper of Rotorua CIB, said the guilty plea was a "good outcome for all".

Mr Pilditch told the Rotorua Daily Post the Crown was not able to publicly release an accurate summary of facts about the case until February.

A former neighbour who did not want to be identified said knowing Pene had admitted manslaughter felt "a bit weird".

Another Edmund Rd resident, who also did not want to be named, said the manslaughter admission was "shocking". She did not know Pene or her situation but could not understand how anyone could kill a child.