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A man and a woman have been charged with cruelly treating a child who has spent the past six weeks in hospital getting treatment for broken bones.
The 18-month-old toddler was taken to Starship Children's Hospital on June 23 with a broken thighbone, a broken right arm and
severe bruising. Police said the injuries might have been caused a month before the child was admitted.
Today police confirmed the child had been living with his parents in west Auckland when he was hurt and a 27-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman had been charged.
Both were due to appear in Waitakere District Court on Thursday on charges of cruelty to/or ill treatment of a child.
Detective Sergeant Megan Goldie from the Henderson police child abuse team said there "are no mitigating factors where children are concerned.
"The public need to take control in all circumstances where there is evidence or concern for the safety and wellbeing of children. The safety of children is paramount."
She said police wanted to hear of any incidents of child abuse.
"These will be fully investigated and where necessary we will charge those responsible, without hesitation," she said.
The charges came as police considered what to do about five facing assault charges for allegedly abusing three-year-old Rotorua toddler, Nia Glassie, who died in Starship Hospital last Friday. The charges were laid before she died.
Detective Sergeant Garry Hawkins of Rotorua said police were waiting for post mortem examination results for Nia before deciding whether to upgrade the assault charges to either manslaughter or murder.
"Until we get that we won't know. It's still very early days in the inquiry."
Police believe she had been abused for several months before she was taken to Rotorua Hospital on July 29 with head and abdominal injuries and transferred to Starship Hospital the same day.
She remained in a coma on a life support system until it was turned off and she died last Friday.
Another toddler, a 12-week-old boy, also from Rotorua, was admitted to Starship Hospital with head injuries the day before Nia Glassie. His injuries were suspicious but not life-threatening.
- NZPA
