Baby Serenity: Charge laid over death

BABY SERENITY: Police are understood to have charged Matthew Ellery over Serenity Jay Scott's death.

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A man has been charged over the death of baby Serenity Jay Scott-Dinnington last April.

Serenity was six-months-old when she died after being found unresponsive at the Havelock Rd house where she lived with her mother Chelsea Scott, her mother's partner Matthew Ellery and Miss Scott's brother Drew.

She later died at Starship Hospital in Auckland.

It is understood that Miss Scott, and Mr Ellery, were taken to Hamilton police station for questioning yesterday.

Police tonight confirmed a 21-year-old man had been arrested and charged over Serenity's death.

The accused man is due to appear in the Hamilton District Court tomorrow.

Police said the arrest could be credited to the tenacity of the investigation team and the support of local agencies and the community.

"To get to the point where we have sufficient evidence to bring this matter before the courts highlights the hard work and long hours put in by an investigation team who always remained focused on doing what is right for a little girl, whose life ended so tragically, " Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Greene said.

People in the Ngaruawahia community had made it clear they were not going to tolerate violence towards children and had rallied behind police, he said.

Mr Greene said while the arrest was a major milestone for the investigation team there was still plenty of work to be done.

He urged anyone that had information on a case of child abuse to go to the police.

"It's a case of see something do something, and as a community we can make a difference. Look after your kids, love them and protect them. "

- © Fairfax NZ News