4:00 pm
The mother of Lillybing - the two-year-old girl who died after being violently shaken by her aunt - has tried to take her own life, according to a report in today's Evening Post newspaper.
Terina Matiaha, 23, mother of Hinewaoriki Karaitiana-Matiaha - known as Lillybing - tried to
kill herself on Friday last week, after hearing that her stepsister Rachealle Namana had admitted killing the girl.
The report said no one had told Ms Matiaha that Namana was going to plead guilty to the manslaughter of Lillybing that day, and that the trial had been cancelled. Instead, Ms Matiaha heard it on the television news.
A relative told the Evening Post that when Ms Matiaha "saw pictures of her dead baby and interviews with relatives on the TV, it hit hard".
Later that night Ms Matiaha tried to take her own life, but was found in time by a person living with her.
Lillybing, was delivered dead to Masterton Hospital on July 23 last year. The Carterton toddler had been dead for about five hours.
Death was due to a major brain injury caused by shaking. She had a badly burned face, a blood clot and life-threatening genital injuries.
On May 18, Namana, a mother of five and former Kohanga Reo teacher, pleaded guilty to one charge of manslaughter, two of ill-treatment of a child, and two of failing to provide the necessaries of life.
Namana's sister, Paewai, a 27-year-old beneficiary and former kohanga reo teacher, pleaded guilty to two charges of wilful ill treatment of a child, and two of failing to provide the necessaries of life.
A charge against Namana's partner, David Hemopo, was dismissed.
