Woman charged in wake of baby’s homicide
A young woman has been charged with attempting to obstruct the course of justice months after the killing of baby Sofia TauekiJackson.
Her arrest, late in 2020, came seven months after the death of the 1-year-old baby girl in Auckland’s Clover Park in what detectives are treating as a homicide. The woman, who has name suppression, appeared in the Manukau District Court on December 18.
Police allege she conspired to obstruct the course of justice by planning and providing false statements, according to court documents.
The 25-year-old is not Sofia’s mother. She is due to next appear in court in April.
The police investigation into the baby’s death is ongoing and the woman is the only person charged so far.
Key members of her wha¯nau remain unco-operative, according to a statement supplied by police to Stuff yesterday.
‘‘Police remain committed to holding the person or persons responsible for Sofia’s death to account despite there still being key members of Sofia’s immediate wha¯nau who are refusing to assist the investigation team.’’
Officers wanted to thank the members of the wha¯nau who had chosen to assist the investigation ‘‘and seek justice for Sofia’’, the statement said.
‘‘Police will continue to investigate Sofia’s death until the person[s] responsible for inflicting her fatal injuries have been held to account.’’
Detective Inspector Tofilau Fa’amanuia Va’aelua earlier said Sofia died from what a neuropathologist professor described as a ‘‘catastrophic head injury’’, deliberately inflicted.
Oranga Tamariki earlier said it was assisting police with the investigation but would not comment further.
The baby died at her mother’s state house in Flat Bush Rd, Clover Park, late on May 23.
Residents in the street earlier recounted the frantic scenes on the Saturday night when the people inside the home flagged down a police officer, who tried in vain to revive the baby girl.
Police allege she conspired to obstruct the course of justice by planning and providing false statements.