Young women plead guilty to kidnapping baby from Epsom home

Nadene Faye Manukau-Togiavalu and Sydnee Shaunna Toulapapa have both pleaded guilty to kidnapping the baby. Photos / Facebook

Two young women accused of kidnapping a newborn baby from an Auckland home have pleaded guilty.

One of the women was the baby's nanny.

Sydnee Shaunna Toulapapa, 18, appeared in the High Court at Auckland this morning before Justice Timothy Brewer where she pleaded guilty to one charge of kidnapping and one charge of burglary.

The court heard that Toulapapa had been coaxed into helping her co-accused, Nadene Faye Manukau-Togiavalu, into taking the then 11-day-old baby from a home on Pah Rd in Epsom in August last year.

Manukau-Togiavalu, 21, pleaded guilty yesterday in the Auckland District Court.

The High Court heard today that Manukau-Togiavalu had been staying at the home and working as a nanny.

Nadene Faye Manukau-Togiavalu and Sydnee Shaunna Toulapapa have both pleaded guilty to kidnapping the baby. Photos / Facebook

On her third night at the house she arranged for Toulapapa to come and take the baby.

The court heard Manukau-Togiavalu had serious health issues and had a delusion that she had been pregnant.

Toulapapa's counsel Annabel Cresswell said Manukau-Togiavalu had fabricated a story that she had been forced to give up her baby for adoption and needed Toulapapa to help get the child back.

Manukau-Togiavalu also staged a fake baby shower to keep up the charade.

It is understood Toulapapa and Manukau-Togiavalu are cousins.

Manukau-Togiavalu is also the cousin of the late up-and-coming league star Luke Tipene who was killed by Vincent Skeen, and gave evidence at Skeen's murder trial.

Nadene Manukau-Togiavalu is also the cousin of the late up-and-coming league star Luke Tipene. Photo / Facebook

On August 9, about 80 police launched a major search after being told a small girl had been taken from an Epsom home about 7am.

The baby was found safe about six hours later.

Toulapapa will be sentenced next month, and a sentencing date for Manukau-Togiavalu is yet to be set.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard said at the time of the kidnapping: "The baby's parents are obviously very distraught and have been through a terrible ordeal and they are currently with their baby.

"This has been an extremely harrowing time for the new parents of a very young baby. We are relieved and thankful that the baby was not harmed and has been reunited with her parents."