Baby Kicked, Slapped

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31153, 1 September 1966, Page 3

Baby Kicked, Slapped

i (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Aug. 31. Further evidence on a charge o f manslaughter against a married couple was heard in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court today. Takaterangi George Tanoa, aged 29, a panel-beater, and Ada Ngahuia Tanoa, aged 27, are charged with the manslaughter of Christina Barbara Opetaia, aged 17 months, on August 9. Mr K. L. Ryan is appearing for the accused and Sergeant H. C. Shearwood for the police. The hearing, before Justices of the Peace, completed its second day today. Alana Niari, aged 15, of Grey Lynn, a niece of the accused, said that on July 31 she and her sister went to live with the Tanoas.

The baby had sores on her legs and arms. Witness used to see Mrs Tanoa slap the baby’s face with an open hand. On one occasion when Christina tried to walk her uncle kicked her and she fell over and hurt her nose. On August 9, said witness, she saw her uncle punch Christina in the stomach and on a cheek. “Then her eyes started rolling. My uncle got frightened and went over to the Justice of the Peace to ring for an ambulance and a doctor. “My auntie was breathing into Christina’s mouth. She took Christina out of the room and put her into the sitting room and wrapped her in a blanket. She kept on blowing into her mouth.” To Mr Ryan witness said Christina used to hold her breath while on the floor. Witness had seen her sister slap the baby, but not hard. To Sergeant Shearwood, witness said she had slapped

Christina herself when the baby held her breath. Ann Dickson, a typist, said she had seen Tanoa shove the baby with his leg. He picked up the baby by the hair and then put her down. She had seen sores on the baby’s back. Mrs Tanoa had said they were there when the couple was given the baby. Apul Kerehoma Rapana; aged 21, a workman, brother of Mrs Tanoa, said that while he had been at the Tanoa’s house he had seen Christina smacked and once she had been dropped on the floor. He did not see how she came to be dropped but thought it was about two feet. Deidre Anne O’Shea, a factory hand, said she was a friend of the child’s mother. Before the baby went to the Tanoas there was nothing wrong with her. The hearing will continue tomorrow.