Police plea after baby’s ‘horrific death’
A year on from the violent death of Sofia Taueki-Jackson, her killer or killers are being shielded by a web of contradictory statements from key witnesses. George Block reports.
Night had fallen on Saturday in the South Auckland suburb of Clover Park when Albert Vahaakolo heard something amiss across the street.
He and other neighbours saw several people in distress in the long driveway of the Ka¯ inga Oraowned social housing property in Flat Bush Rd.
Police officers were already in the area dealing with another incident and one of the people yelled out: ‘‘Hey, hey, we need some help,’’ Vahaakolo said.
Shortly after, neighbours saw an officer attempting CPR in the driveway, but it was to no avail.
Sofia Taueki-Jackson, months old, died at the scene.
Three days later, on May 26 and following an autopsy, police launched a homicide investigation.
Detectives and forensic specialists descended on the house, occupied by Sofia’s mother, Phyllis Taueki. The investigation has yielded one charge of obstructing justice but none for the killing.
The results of the autopsy were harrowing.
In the hours before her death Sofia suffered upwards of 20 injuries to her head and neck, one of which caused a catastrophic and fatal head injury, said Acting Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers, a field crime manager at Counties Manukau Criminal Investigation Branch.
‘‘We know that it would have been a horrific death,’’ Vickers said. ‘‘She’s 14 months old, she should be in a place where she feels safe, surrounded by wha¯ nau who really should be protecting her and . . . looking out for her, making sure that she’s safe.’’ 14
There were four adults at Taueki’s home that night, all members of Sofia’s close wha¯ nau who either lived there or frequented the property.
Those four, whom police won’t name publicly, have given statements to investigators.
But Vickers said there were significant inconsistencies between the statements.
‘‘I need to acknowledge there are members of that wha¯nau who’ve been co-operative with police. There are people who do want to find out what happened to Sofia. The four people that were there that night, close members of the wha¯nau, they have provided statements, but there are inconsistencies, and the statements just don’t add up.’’
A 25-year-old woman, who was granted interim name suppression and who is not Taueki, was charged with giving a false statement in December 2020.
Police allege she conspired to obstruct the course of justice by planning and providing false statements, according to court documents viewed by the Sunday Star-Times.
They won’t rule out further similar charges against others.
Vickers appealed for those four people in the home that night to come forward and tell the truth.
He is also asking anyone who might have heard anything related to Sofia’s death to speak up.
‘‘If you’ve got that information, come and tell us the truth, simple as that.
‘‘If there’s people that have had conversations or heard things, or heard information they think is relevant . . . just contact us, give us a call.’’
Counties Manukau CIB continues to maintain a dedicated team for the investigation into Sofia’s death.
‘‘It would be fair to say we’re frustrated,’’ Vickers said.
‘‘A lot of us are parents, so we want to get justice for Sofia. ‘‘We’re not going to give up.’’ Taueki’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment on Friday.
Sofia was the second child of Owen Jackson and Taueki, who has four other children.
Neighbours said Taueki had lived at the home for only a few months when her daughter died.
Jackson, whom the Sunday Star-Times has been unable to reach for comment, described his children as his pride and joy and ‘‘my everything’’ on Facebook.
Taueki was vocal on social media about protecting her five children prior to Sofia’s death
The home where Sofia died is in the ward of Auckland councillor Alf Filipaina, who was a police officer for almost four decades in South Auckland.
After the killing, he called on anyone with any information to speak with police.
‘‘It is about having peace for Sofia. Say something, get family members to say something.
‘‘Just help the police, for Sofia’s sake.’’
Brian Paki, who has lived in his home across from the scene for 40 years, corroborated the account of the desperate scenes described by Vahaakolo at the time.
‘‘It’s so, so sad,’’ he said.
‘‘Say something, get family members to say something. Just help the police, for Sofia’s sake.’’ Alf Filipaina
Anyone with information on what happened to Sofia can call police on 105.