Fijian Named In NZ Baby Death
A heavily pregnant Fijian teenager has pleaded not guilty to murdering a baby.
Name suppression for 18-year-old Shayal Upashna Sami was lifted yesterday at the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Sami, who has roots in Fiji, was allegedly babysitting Aaliyah Ashlyn Chand when the one-year-old suffered unexplained serious head injuries. Aaliyah was taken to Christchurch Hospital and died on January 7, with her parents, Anjani and Dev, by her bedside.
Police had ruled out accidental or health reasons for the death. Jonathan Eaton QC, for the defence, said according to the post-mortem summary, Aaliyah suffered a blunt force impact injury, but the summary had no view on the cause. Sami, who is due to give birth in April, was further remanded on bail until a case review on May 15. Her curfew was relaxed to 10pm to 6am.
