Woman acquitted of horsewhipping son may lose daughter

The teenage daughter of the woman acquitted on charges of horsewhipping her son has been placed into Child Youth and Family care after claims her mother assaulted her earlier this week.

Sources close to the police confirmed the Timaru woman was the subject of an assault complaint following an incident at the family home this week. No charges have been laid.

The 13-year-old girl had been placed into CYF care while investigations were carried out into claims her mother had punched her in the face with a semi-closed fist.

Court orders prevent the Herald on Sunday from revealing the woman's identity or the identity of her daughter, but in an earlier interview the woman described the girl as "my perfect little angel". Last year social workers unsuccessfully petitioned the Family Court to have the 13-year-old removed from the woman's care after concerns her husband had been in an incestuous relationship with his sister 35 years ago.

The woman was acquitted in 2005 of assaulting her 13-year-old son with a riding crop and a bamboo cane.