A High Court judge yesterday told a woman who mistreated her infant son that children were a gift not to be abused.
Justice David Morris made his comments in the High Court at Auckland after 19-year-old Shanelle Daniela Albert, of Takanini, pleaded guilty to four charges of assault on Xavier Poloa-Tilialo and two charges of wounding the baby with reckless disregard for his safety.
Some of the offences were representative, meaning they occurred more than once.
The judge turned down an application by Albert's lawyer, Denise Wallwork, for bail pending sentencing next week.
Justice Morris said it was almost certain that he would send Albert to jail unless the reports he called for were "quite extraordinary".
"This is the continual beating of a young child - a child is a gift and a gift is not to be abused.
"And the message has to go out that people who do these things are not going to be slapped on the wrist."
According to a police summary, the child was admitted to the Starship children's hospital with life-threatening head injuries.
Judge says children are gifts not to be abused
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