Oxford baby death: Woman charged with neglect after infant’s death, due in court today

Michael Steele with his son Kevin Chen, who died suddenly four months ago. Steele is now demanding answers after saying he raised red flags with Oranga Tamariki before the tragedy.

A woman has been charged with child neglect after a baby died in “unexplained” circumstances four months ago.

Two-month-old Kevin Chen died at a house in Oxford, North Canterbury - about 70km northwest of Christchurch - on August 5.

Police originally treated the sudden death as “unexplained”.

A woman has now been charged with ill-treatment or neglect of a child under 18 years of age and another charge.

She is expected to appear at Christchurch District Court this afternoon.

The boy’s father Michael Steele earlier told the Herald little Kevin was “a dear wee soul”.

He said his life had been a living hell since learning of his sudden death, having seen his son just days earlier.

Kurt Bayer is NZ Herald South Island Head of News based in Christchurch. He is a senior journalist who joined the Herald in 2011.

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