Woman accused of baby snatching attempt

A 20-year-old woman has appeared in court charged with attempting to snatch a baby from a private Christchurch hospital.

The unemployed Christchurch woman, whose name is suppressed, is accused of intending to deprive the mother of the possession of the two-day-old child.

The woman appeared briefly in the Christchurch District Court and has been remanded to Hillmorton Hospital for a psychiatric assessment.

Judge David Saunders also made an order prohibiting publication of any photos of the woman charged because her identification could become an issue at a later time.

Members of the woman's family were in court to support her but refused to talk to media after her appearance.

- NEWSTALK ZB