Xin Xin Ma. Photo / Supplied
The grandfather of 5-year-old Xin Xin Ma today lunged at the man accused of kidnapping her.
Xin Xin's paternal grandparents sobbed as they sat in the front row of the North Shore District Court awaiting the appearance of a 25-year-old man.
When the man came into the dock,
her grandfather lunged at the accused.
The public gallery was packed with family members and friends of the child, including her mother and grandparents.
As the charged man was led away, the grandfather lunged at him and shouted angry allegations in Mandarin, such as "you shouldn't get away with this", "how could you do this to such a young child" and "do you know what pain you've caused my family".
The grandfather had to be removed by security guards.
He wept again as he made his way from the courtroom to a waiting car, telling reporters that he would never forgive the man.
Before this morning's court appearance, one of Cina's aunts, Hong Zhou, said outside court that the girl was doing "all right".
"We've not asked her too much," she said.
"We are trying to give her toys and love."
Ms Zhou said she didn't know if Cina would be back in class when her school's new term began next week.
The man, a real estate agent, was remanded in custody until August 28 and his name suppression was extended to August 4.
He is accused of kidnapping with intent to seek a ransom.
Xin Xin was taken from a street in Albany and allegedly held in a wardrobe for five days.
She was rescued from a nearby house by police.
Xin Xin spent last weekend surrounded by family, painting and playing with toys the police gave her after she was rescued.
The 5-year-old appeared to have survived her five-day ordeal without any serious injury, although it is too early to know if there will be any long-term psychological effects.
Her aunt, Hong Zhou, visited Xin Xin at a hotel on Saturday and said at the weekend that the little girl was doing well and "trying to get back to normal".
- with NEWSTALK ZB, NZPA
