Mother extradited to face charges of assaulting baby

An Auckland mother has been extradited from Australia to appear in court on historic charges of assaulting her baby daughter.

The 27-year-old appeared in a District Court in the Auckland area on Friday on one charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

She was remanded in custody until her next appearance.

The Herald has learned that the woman was living in Queensland with her other young children until her extradition last week.

The charges relate to an assault on a baby girl in July last year. It is understood the baby was about two months old at the time.

The alleged assault happened at a residential address in Pakuranga.

The baby's name and any identifying details are permanently suppressed.

A source told the Herald that the baby was taken by ambulance to Middlemore Hospital, and then transferred to Starship. She had life threatening head injuries and it is understood she was lucky to survive.

Police and Oranga Tamariki were alerted and began an investigation into how the baby was harmed.

In February this year the woman was charged in Brisbane and the process to extradite her began.

In early August she was arrested and about a week later extradited to Auckland. Police could not comment on the case as it was before the courts.