Baby died of 'non-accidental brain injury'

MICHAEL FIELD/ Fairfax Media

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES: Detective Senior Sergeant Sue Schwalger says the post mortem examination of a 10-month-old South Auckland girl showed her death was not accidental.

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A 10-month old baby girl from South Auckland died from a "non-accidental brain injury", police said today, turning the spotlight back on child abuse.
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But Detective Senior Sergeant Sue Schwalger told reporters it was too early to say whether it was a homicide.

She said Jyniah Mary Te Awa was taken to Auckland's Starship Hospital on Sunday but died on Monday afternoon.

"A post mortem examination was conducted yesterday with a preliminary result of death being due to a non-accidental brain injury," she said.

Two Manurewa houses were being investigated and the family was cooperating with the inquiry, she said.

Jyniah's death comes less than two months after Rotorua 3-year-old Nia Glassie died after allegedly being spun in a clothes dryer, and 15 months after infant twins Cru and Chris Kahui died in Mangere, south Auckland.

Ms Schwalger said five to 10 adults were present at various times where Jyniah was being cared for over the weekend. They included one of her parents, though she would not say which one.

"Police are speaking to everyone who have been in contact with Jyniah over the weekend and to date all family members and those who have had contact with Jyniah have been co-operative and have assisted police."

Nobody was in custody and police were still some way from determining how she received the fatal brain injury.

Several other children, all relatives of Jyniah aged between two months and eight years were present. All are being cared for, though Ms Schwalger was not sure who the current carers were.

Scene examinations were being conducted at the Burbank Ave residence and another family address in Shifnal Drive, Manurewa.

Ms Schwalger said the police inquiry was being run along the same lines as a homicide investigation, but until any culpability was determined it was difficult to say Jyniah's death was a homicide.

About 15 investigators plus forensic staff were working on the case.

She did not know if the family was known to police or if Jyniah had been admitted to hospital before.