Rotorua District Court. Photo / File
A Tīrau mother has been charged with murdering her toddler.
Southern Thompson, 26, is accused of killing Comfort Joy Thompson-Pene between July 20 and July 23 last year.
The 18-month-old died in Waikato Hospital on July 24.
Taupō police laid the murder charge this morning.
Thompson appeared in the Rotorua District Court before Judge Tony Snell in a black shirt, skirt and sandals and was represented by Rotorua defence lawyer Tim Braithwaite.
She did not enter a plea and was remanded on bail to reappear in the High Court in Rotorua early next month.
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Court documents say she now lives in Hamilton.
Last year Thompson pleaded not guilty to two charges relating to the toddler.
They were injuring with intent between March 1 and July 10, and failing to seek medical care, causing extreme pain, on July 21.
She was awaiting a jury trial.
A disregard for authority could be why those attending court are thumbing their noses.