CYF defends placement of abused children

Child, Youth and Family (CYF) is defending its decision to place five children whose mother had been convicted of child abuse into the care of a relative who was today sentenced for assaulting three of them.

Tafailagi Su'a, 30, who has no children of her own, took over their care after their mother - a relative - was convicted and jailed for five years for abuse after inflicting head injuries on the mother's then four-year-old son, who was nearly killed.

Su'a was sentenced to 11 months' home detention on six child assault charges when she appeared in Auckland District Court today.

Acting CYF head Lorraine Williams said that the family was not known to CYF until the mother was charged.

Ms Williams said when children were unable to live with their parents, every effort was made to keep them with family as in the vast majority of cases this was best for children.

"There was absolutely no reason to believe that (Su'a) in this case would not be a good caregiver. She was being well supported." Other family members were living in the home and community care workers were actively involved.

"The family all agreed that she was the best person to care for the children in the interim. The interim arrangements and long-term plan were approved by the Family Court."

Ms Williams said she was confident that in this case CYF did the right things. "Unfortunately a person everyone believed would keep the children safe - didn't."

When the children told social workers Ms Su'a was hitting them, CYF referred the allegations to police.

Ms Williams said everyone involved in helping the children was shocked and saddened by the case.

Su'a was initially charged with 13 counts of assault with a weapon and eight of assault, charges which covered each of the five children, but at the end of the Crown case she admitted three amended charges of smacking and was found guilty by a jury of two charges of assault involving kicking a child in the stomach, and one of assault with a weapon - a belt.

The charges related to three of the five children, and not the one who was nearly killed by his mother.

Su'a was found not guilty of 12 other charges, while the jury could not reach verdicts on three more.

Judge Mary Beth Sharp said it was particularly disappointing the children were abused, given the circumstances.

"For the children, what happened to them is a double tragedy considering they have come to you because they have been uprooted from their own home," she told Su'a.

"For them to be re-abused by a member of the same family beggars belief."

Judge Sharp said the charges she was convicted on were worth a total jail term of 21 months.

This qualified her for a home detention term, and Judge Sharp decided to grant it to her after what she said was a great deal of reflection.

She said Su'a had no previous convictions, had no children of her own, the violence on the children was "moderate", and she could serve a home detention centre without being a danger.

Su'a also agreed to take a course at a Pacific Island rehabilitation centre in west Auckland.

Among the conditions of Su'a's home detention were that she have no contact with the victims, or with any children under 16 unless she was supervised by an approved person.


- NZPA