Child abuse accused reappear in court

An Auckland couple facing horrific child abuse charges have been remanded on bail. File photo / NZ Herald

An Auckland couple facing horrific child abuse charges, some of which date back to 2006, have reappeared in court.

The couple from Avondale, who cannot be named, appeared in Auckland District Court facing a number of assault charges.

The man, 34, faces charges of strangling a boy, now 14, and of beating him with an electrical wire, a hose pipe, wooden stick, ruler, vacuum cleaner pipe and machete.

The woman, 32, is accused of assaulting the boy with a wire cord, plate, hose pipe, wooden stick, vacuum cleaner pipe and electrical wire.

The man's charges relate to incidents between June 2008 and February this year, while the woman's charges date from February 2006 to February this year.

The couple, who were dressed in smart casual attire before Judge Phil Gittos today, were remanded on bail and will reappear on July 11 for a post-committal conference.

- NZPA