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A 28-year-old man charged in connection with the death of a baby in South Auckland was denied bail to attend the boy’s funeral.
The man, who was granted provisional name suppression, collapsed in the dock at Manukau District Court when the judge denied his request for compassionate bail to attend the boy’s tangi.
Instead, Judge Clark put him on remand until his next appearance on November 10.
More than 20 family members and supporters filled the gallery to show their support for the man and called him when Judge Clark issued his decision.
READ MORE:
* Man arrested after the death of a baby in Ōtara, south Auckland.
* Auckland baby homicide: no arrest, police describe ‘difficulties’ with family
* Auckland baby homicide: Whānau speaks up but no arrest three weeks later
They blew kisses at the man while yelling “I love you.” They wore T-shirts with photos of the boy who died.
“My own concern is to allow the police investigation to continue unimpeded,” Judge Clark said.
“And in order for me to achieve that end, I believe that I must take seriously the concerns that the police have that there may be any interference with witnesses or evidence.
The baby was found dead at a property on Sandbrook Ave, Ōtara, on October 22, and his death was initially treated as unexplained.
In a summary of the facts, Judge Clark said the boy had suffered cardiac arrest when emergency personnel were called to the home.
The baby was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel who noted injuries to his face and arm.
A post-mortem examination carried out over the next two days provisionally found that the boy died of head injuries.
Police have since launched a homicide investigation and a man was arrested and charged with assaulting a child on Tuesday morning.
Detective Sergeant Major Veronica McPherson said police could not rule out the possibility of further charges being filed.
The arrested man is expected to appear in Manukau District Court on Tuesday.
“Our investigations into the death of the five-month-old baby are ongoing and we are not in a position to comment further,” McPherson said.
The floor of the social housing where the baby died was deserted Tuesday when it emerged that a man had been charged in connection with the death.
Abigail Dougherty / Stuff
Police at a property on Sandbrook Ave, Ōtara, where a baby was found dead last week.
Neighbors in adjoining units of the three-story Kāinga Ora block said that the family who lived there returned after the police cordon was lifted, following the end of their examination of the scene on Saturday.
They then left and had not been seen since, a neighbor said.
A crime scene tent remains in the front lawn but the police tape has disappeared.
Neighbors echoed comments from other people living nearby, saying they heard nothing in the lead up to the report of the baby’s death.
It is understood that the family had only lived at the property for a few months.
Abigail Dougherty / Stuff
A police cordon has been erected around the house on Sandbrook Ave, Ōtara, Auckland.
This is the third death of a baby in South Auckland since May.
Baby Sofia Taueki-Jackson died at her mother Phyllis Taueki’s home on Flat Bush Rd, Clover Park, on May 23. No charges have been brought and police have urged nearby whānau to refuse to help investigators speak.
Ten-month-old Poseidyn Hemopo Pickering died after sustaining non-accidental head injuries on September 6 on William Ave, Manurewa. A man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
