The mother of Lillybing, the Wairarapa 2-year-old fatally abused by a relative, has tried to kill herself.
Terina Matiaha, mother of Hinewaoriki Karaitiana-Matiaha - known as Lillybing - attempted suicide 10 days ago just hours after learning that her step-sister, Rachealle Namana, had admitted killing the girl.
The revelation comes as police plan further questioning over evidence relating to the sexual abuse of Lillybing.
On May 18, Namana pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Lillybing, to wilful ill-treatment and failing to provide the necessaries of life.
Namana's sister and co-accused Rongomai Paewai, originally charged with manslaughter, pleaded guilty to ill-treatment and failing to provide the necessaries of life.
A charge of failing to provide the necessaries of life against Namana's partner, Dave Hemopo, was dropped.
Wellington's Post newspaper reported that after hearing the news, Ms Matiaha "flipped out," according to relative who spoke on condition of anonymity.
No one had told her the sisters were going to plead guilty on the Friday, and that the trial had been cancelled, so when she saw pictures of her dead baby and interviews with relatives on TV news that night, it hit hard.
Later that night, Ms Matiaha tried to take her life.
"Luckily, we found her in time," the relative said. "In this house, you're never alone."
Ms Matiaha had since seen a counsellor, through Women's Refuge, for the first time since her child died a year ago.
Now, the 23-year-old mother of two more children - one the subject of a custody battle and one left with her mother - is lying low in the Wellington suburb of Wainuiomata to escape intrusion and gossip in Carterton.
Of Lillybing's aunts, stepsisters Ms Matiaha was raised with and was once close to, she said:"I hate them." Nor could she forgive them.
Ms Matiaha was unable to answer questions about her apparent invisibility in Lillybing's life, or why she allowed her child to be left in the hands of Namana.
Ms Matiaha said she could not forgive herself for not taking Lillybing home with her on the Saturday night she died.
She tried to fetch her, but was told the girl was sleeping and would be returned later.
She was being lied to. By that stage, Lillybing had been scalded with a boiling poultice, and was losing consciousness. "I should have taken her home on Saturday night," Ms Matiaha said.
Her last living memory of Lillybing was after "she'd just finished breaking into my smokes."
Soon after that Ms Matiaha was dropped off at the hospital to see another of her children, who was ill with dehydration. Meanwhile, Lillybing was dropped off at Namana's.
Some time the next day, Lillybing died.
The person responsible for sexual injuries suffered by the toddler, who suffered a catalogue of injuries before dying from a brain injury after Namana shook her, remains unknown, and police are pursuing the matter.
A Masterton police spokesman said police were writing to her lawyer, Val Nisbet, requesting another interview with Namana.
Ms Matiaha said she was now trying to be strong but felt alone - as she had since Lillybing's death.
"It was how I lost her. All the injuries she had to go through before she died."
She was cleared by police, she said, and had nothing to do with the baby's death.
Meanwhile, an uncle of Lillybing appeared in Masterton District Court on Friday on a charge of assaulting a 59-year-old man on Easter Saturday.
The Carterton man, Pohate Tewhaiai Namana, 19, appeared before a registrar and was remanded on an intimated guilty plea to appear before a judge on June 5. He was granted bail.
Lillybing's mum attempts suicide after guilty pleas
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