Baby assault accused is new dad

James Allan Hemana. Photo / Supplied

The man charged with assaulting baby Cezar Taylor became a father just days before the six-month-old died in hospital.

James Allan Hemana's former girlfriend, Amanda Drake, 28, gave birth to a baby girl, Finesse Sylva-Drake, last Saturday morning.

Cezar died at Auckland's Starship Hospital at 6.15pm on Wednesday from injuries that were consistent with shaking and a blow to the head.

Hemana, also known as James Sylva, was remanded in custody after appearing in the Manukau District Court on Friday.

He is accused of assaulting Cezar last Friday at the Mangere East home he lives at with the baby's mother. He was not the father of Cezar.

Police believe the injuries could have been inflicted over a period of time.

Drake told the Herald on Sunday she was shocked and surprised.

"It's a bit of a shock to find out that this has happened to someone else's baby. I feel really sorry for the mother."

Drake and Hemana had been "on-again, off-again" for around four years in Whangarei, before they made the final decision to split about seven months ago.

Drake said Hemana returned to Whangarei from Auckland. He found out she was having his child about three months into her pregnancy.

"When he found out I was having a girl he came back and knocked on my door. He had tears in his eyes, he was totally overjoyed."

However, Hemana went back to Auckland and Drake had not heard from him since.

After Cezar was admitted to hospital, police tracked Hemana down to a family member's house in Te Awamutu on Wednesday.

Police are speaking with three women who were found at the address.

Further charges against Hemana may be laid once the initial investigation is complete.

Detective Senior Sergeant Richard Wilkie said police were still talking to many of Hemana's friends and family members including "a number" of partners he was believed to have had.

He could not say whether Hemana had any other children.

Cezar's body was released to the family on Friday. They are believed to have taken him to Tauranga where his father lives.

It was revealed this week that Cezar's mother had been spoken to by Child, Youth and Family shortly before the baby's death and the mother had been assigned a new social worker in Auckland.

However, there had been no follow-up before the baby was admitted to Starship.