KEY POINTS:
Family Party leader Richard Lewis of Destiny Church is helping support the family of a woman charged with murdering a 10-month-old south Auckland girl last month.
The 30-year-old woman, who has interim name suppression, was granted bail when she appeared in Manukau District Court today charged with the murder of Manurewa child Jyniah Te Awa.
Among those in court to support the accused and her family was Richard Lewis, who once headed Destiny Church's political wing Destiny New Zealand and who now co-leads the Family Party.
Mr Lewis said the family of the woman, who was the caregiver of Jyniah at the time of her death, were new members of Destiny Church.
"They reached out for help to us over the weekend," Mr Lewis said outside the court.
"We gave them counsel and I helped facilitate them coming to the police and now this is where they're at so I'm here to support the immediate family in whatever capacity I can."
Mr Lewis said the family did not want to talk to media about the woman's murder charge.
"As you could probably understand it's a very traumatic time for them all," he said.
"It's a very difficult period for them that they're still trying to come to terms with and they'll make a statement at some stage down the track."
He said he could not comment on whether the charge would be contested.
Judge Margaret Lee granted the woman interim name suppression until her next appearance at Manukau District Court on December 12 for a pre-depositions hearing.
The woman's lawyer Melinda Mason said name suppression would be sought due to the likely impact on the woman's children should she be named.
Judge Lee would not allow any visual images to be taken of the woman, saying it was a serious charge and she did not wish to do anything to jeopardise the court process.
The accused woman's bail conditions include living at a Hamilton address and not associating with the immediate family of Jyniah.
Jyniah was taken to Middlemore Hospital from a Manurewa address on September 23 after people at the address called for an ambulance.
She was subsequently taken to Starship Hospital, where she died the next day. A post-mortem revealed she died of a non-accidental brain injury.
Police investigation head Detective Senior Sergeant Sue Schwalger did not wish to comment other than to confirm the accused woman was the caregiver of Jyniah at the time of her death.
She said family members had been very co-operative during the investigation.
- NZPA
