Six month old Ngaruawahia baby dies in Starship Hospital

A six month old Ngaruawahia baby, admitted to Waikato Hospital earlier this week with apparent non-accidental injuries, has died this afternoon at Starship Hospital in Auckland.

The child was transferred to Starship Hospital overnight on Tuesday night, 26 April. The case was referred to Police on Tuesday 26 April and a Police investigation has been underway since.

The officer in charge of the Police investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Greene, says the young child had been on life-support since her arrival at Starship Hospital.

“Her life-support was turned off this afternoon and she died a short time later at approximately 4:35pm.

“As a result, the Police investigation has now been upgraded to a homicide inquiry.”

Detective Senior Sergeant Greene says a post-mortem will be undertaken in Auckland tomorrow to determine the cause of death.

He says Police and ESR staff have been conducting a scene examination at the Ngaruawahia house where the baby had been living.

“This will take some time to complete, and will continue over the coming days.

“Obviously this is a sad development in this case. Our focus is very much on determining the events leading up to the baby’s admission to hospital and her subsequent death.”

Detective Senior Sergeant Greene says Police are now able to name the young child as Serenity Jay Scott-Dinnington.

Police will be making no further comment today. A further media update will be provided tomorrow, 29 April.