8-year-old's death from abuse shocks community

The death of a Tauranga-born girl and arrest of her mother in Australia this week has sent shockwaves through the community they lived in.

Ane Leaso was arrested this week after her 8-year-old daughter, Faith, was found dead in a Cairns apartment on Monday night.

Leaso was charged with torture and two counts of assault for allegedly physically abusing her daughter. Queensland Police have not ruled out also charging Leaso with murder.

The story has sparked outraged, with 196 comments posted on the Queensland Police's Facebook page by yesterday.

Meg Louise Angle posted "Many many tears. Rest in peace lil one glad someone has been charged... having a child not much older this is very upsetting".

Gwen Kuhl posted: "RIP little one. No one can hurt you anymore."

Chere Chapman: "R.I.P innocent angel. My thoughts and prayers go to whoever loved her, gosh I hope at least someone showed her what love is sometime in her short little life."

The Cairns Post reported that Faith attended Edge Hill and Cairns West state schools but Education Queensland said she was not enrolled at any school at the time of her death.

Faith was considered "cheeky" after posing for a photograph for the Post while at Edge Hill in 2008.

Australian media reported that Senior Constable Bob Soper told the Cairns Magistrates Court on Wednesday that Leaso tried to hide her daughter's injuries by removing her from school.

"It's been alleged by the prosecution that the defendant's 8-year-old child has been exposed to prolonged period of physical and emotional abuse over 12 months.

"In November 2010 the defendant removed her child from school following an intervention by the Department of Child Safety, it is alleged to conceal the child's injuries by taking her out of school," Mr Soper said.

Pathology results would determine whether a murder charge would be made.

The Australian reported that concerns about physical abuse were raised with police and child safety officers as early as November last year.

When Faith stopped attending school, education authorities checked at her house many times and were told this year she had moved back to New Zealand, it was reported.

In court there were suggestions Leaso was "possibly suffering from post-natal depression".

Mr Soper said police would allege the torture happened on November 21, while the assault occasioning bodily harm while armed occurred on November 23, when Ms Leaso had "repeatedly assaulted" her daughter with a metal pole from a vacuum cleaner.

Leaso's Tauranga-based parents Paulo and Ipu Leaso will leave on Monday for Faith's burial and to support their daughter.

Mr Leaso told the Bay of Plenty Times he hoped to bring his daughter and other grandchildren home with him.

Leaso was denied bail and remanded in custody to appear again on December 21.