Family of a 10-month-old girl who died a year ago in what police describe as unexplained circumstances are calling for people who were there on the night of her death to speak up.
Officers are frustrated at the lack of co-operation they have had since Kween Thompson died in Dargaville on July 13 last year.
The baby had moved to live with family ten days before her death and was living with her mother and grandmother. The location was known as a party house.
At first the death was treated as unexplained, and it was only after Kween was cremated that concerned relatives went to police with additional information forcing an investigation.
An autopsy confirmed Kween had died from asphyxia but she had suffered a non-accidental injury in the weeks prior to her death and she had unexplained bruises on her face as well as suffering from pneumonia.
Senior Sergeant Kevan Verry, of Northland CIB, said: "The initial attendance didn't show anything untoward, and the matter was an unexplained death.
"After the death some facts started coming to light, concerns raised by the whānau which warranted a police review. Then we've started to look into the version of events given, which has been concerning, and we are frustrated by the lack of cooperation from the people that were at the house on the night that Kween died.
Relatives of the 10-month-old girl who died in a Dargaville home are calling on those who were there on the night of her death to speak up. (Source: 1News)
“There is a number of unanswered facts and questions that we need to answer and would like those people to consider their view and engage with police and help speak up to Kween and tell us what happened.”
At the time, police were told the baby’s cot had collapsed but since then the people present have refused to talk. Forensic tests have been carried out on the cot.
Kween and her sibling were on Oranga Tamariki’s radar before the baby died, but the agency is unable to explain why for privacy reasons and because of the ongoing police investigation.
Kween's Aunty, Casey Taituma, was among those who raised the alarm.
She appealed for people to come forward with information.
“I have had enough of everyone trying to be normal like nothing happened.” She said she wanted “the truth for Kween – she deserves a voice”.
And Kween’s grandfather, Shaun Taituma, who is now caring for the sibling, said he is focusing on the police investigation. “We need a result from that,” he said. “To either move forward in any direction, whether it’s this way or that.”
But he added: “I’ve almost prepared myself that we might never get answers.”
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