Woman accused of putting toddler in closed suitcase on bus denied bail

A woman appears in the North Shore District Court after a toddler was found shut inside a suitcase in the luggage compartment of a bus travelling from Northland to Auckland. Photos / NZ Herald

The woman accused of putting a toddler in a shut suitcase on a bus has been denied bail.

She appeared before Judge Anna Fitzgibbon in the North Shore District Court this afternoon.

Her next appearance is scheduled for August 13.

The judge acknowledged some of the defendant’s family who had come to support her.

The woman was charged with neglect after the toddler was found in a suitcase in the luggage compartment on a bus travelling from Northland to Auckland on Sunday.

Yesterday the woman, 27, wore a purple hoodie, grey baggy pants and faced away from the public gallery as she stood in the dock for her first court appearance.

She appeared emotional and wiped her eyes on multiple occasions.

Judge Fitzgibbon granted the woman interim name suppression and scheduled her to reappear this morning. The woman’s lawyer indicated she was scheduled to undergo a psychological assessment.

Judge Fitzgibbon granted the media permission to photograph the woman and to publish pixelated images of her.

No plea was entered.

Police allege the woman put the child in a closed suitcase on a bus travelling from Whangārei to Auckland.

She has been charged with ill-treatment/neglect of a child.

The accused woman, 27, has been granted interim name suppression by the North Shore District Court. Photo / NZ Herald

A court charge sheet says the alleged conduct was likely to cause adverse effects to the health of the toddler.

“Namely, suffocation, carbon monoxide poisoning, heat exhaustion, psychological trauma.”

It alleged the offending was a “major departure” from the standard of care expected by a reasonable person.

No occupation was listed on the woman’s charge sheet.

Police said officers were called about 12.50pm on Sunday after a passenger asked to access the luggage department during a planned stop in Kaiwaka, a small town in Northland.

“The driver became concerned when he noticed the bag moving,” said Detective Inspector Simon Harrison, acting field crime manager Waitematā.

“When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the 2-year-old little girl.”

The girl was reported to be very hot but otherwise appeared unharmed.

She was taken to hospital for a thorough medical assessment.

“We would like to acknowledge and commend the bus driver, who noticed something wasn’t right and took immediate action, preventing what could have been a far worse outcome,” Harrison said.

The investigation is ongoing and further charges have not been ruled out.

Oranga Tamariki regional commissioner Te Tai Tokerau, Anya Tahere, said the agency had been notified about the incident.

“Our thoughts are with the young child involved.

“We are working with their whānau to ensure the child is safe and cared for.”

Katie Harris is an Auckland-based journalist who covers issues such as sexual assault, workplace misconduct, media, crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2020.

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