Authorities do not believe there were any warning signs ahead of an alleged assault that left a 7-year-old Nelson boy dead.
However police may charge the mother of Duwayne Toetu Taote Pailegutu in addition to the assault charge faced by his stepfather.
Duwayne was found unresponsive at his
Nelson home on Wednesday morning, and police and paramedics were unable to resuscitate him.
His body has now been released by police to relatives in Auckland, where he lived until late last year, for a funeral. The stepfather, a 37-year-old labourer originally from the Cook Islands, faces a charge of assaulting Duwayne, and is to reappear in court later this month. The charge against him is likely to be upgraded to a more serious one.
The Weekend Herald understands a charge being considered against Duwayne's mother may relate to the care she provided to him.
Child, Youth and Family have revealed that they were twice notified about issues relating to the family before the death.
It was incorrectly reported in the Herald yesterday that the notifications were received by CYF after the boy died.
CYF deputy chief executive Ray Smith said neither of the notifications indicated the boy's safety was at risk.
Detective Inspector John Winter agreed, saying neither notification involved interventions with the family and neither related to Duwayne. A post-mortem examination has been carried out and police have discussed the results with prosecutors and the coroner.
"We will just wait. We will consider the results of that. The [stepfather] is in custody, to appear again on [July] 15th, so we have got plenty of time," Mr Winter said.
Police hoped to complete their examination of the family's home, in Stoke, last night.
