“Three of those charges relate to Alestra and one to another child,” Syddall said.
The man and woman will appear in Kaikohe District Court tomorrow.
Syddall said the death of a child was “tragic and distressing” for all involved.
“We would like to thank those members of the community who have come forward and provided information so far.”
Police were limited in providing further detail given the matter was now before the court.
The charges come after a police appeal for information in July last year, nine years after Alestra’s death.
Police revealed on July 4 that they were investigating Alestra’s death, who was living with caregivers in Kaikohe at the time.
Alestra reportedly suffered a minor seizure, fell, and hit her head.
Police say when her caregivers went to check on her after she went to bed, she was limp.
She died after being airlifted to Starship Hospital.
A day after the update on the case, police also revealed they had identified two people of interest.
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Syddall then provided further updates on July 9, revealing that injuries the young child suffered in the weeks leading up to Alestra’s death were not a coincidence.
She said injuries of that nature “did not just happen”.
August 28 was the last time Alestra was seen by anyone other than her caregivers, Syddall said, and she was believed to be uninjured and healthy.
Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.
