10 Aug 2017

Teen accused of kidnapping newborn faces court

1:49 pm on 10 August 2017

An 18-year-old accused of kidnapping a newborn baby girl in Auckland has been allowed to keep her name secret until her next court hearing.

The woman, and a 21-year-old who is yet to make her first court appearance, are charged with taking the 11-day-old baby from a home in the suburb of Epsom early yesterday morning.

The baby was later found safe, and returned to her parents in the afternoon.

The lawyer for the 18-year-old told the court she now lived in Australia, and has been back in New Zealand on a visit.

She has been remanded on bail without plea to reappear at the end of the month.

Her co-accused is expected to appear in court sometime today.