Women charged with cruelty

Two women have been remanded on charges of physically abusing a 13-year-old girl relative.

The two, aged 39 and 17 and from the same family, appeared yesterday in the Manukau District Court, where their names were suppressed and they were remanded on bail to reappear on April 28.

Police said three other teenagers from the family alleged to have been involved in the abuse had been referred to Mangere Youth Aid.

Officers said the girl was taken to hospital in February with injuries allegedly received in a series of beatings, during which her hair was roughly cut off.