Mother remanded over child murder

A 34-year-old woman has been remanded in custody "for her own protection" after appearing before magistrates charged with murdering her daughter.

The body of Zoe-Ann David, aged four, was found in her bedroom in the Maesglas area of Newport on 19 June.

Her mother Zoe David was found nearby with serious injuries and was taken to the city's Royal Gwent Hospital.

She was remanded into a psychiatric clinic for 28 days. Her case was sent to Cardiff Crown Court.

She spoke only to confirm her name, age and address. She was flanked in court by a man and a woman.

Paul Latner, prosecuting, asked that she be remanded in custody for her own protection.

No application for bail was made by David Leathley, defending.

Magistrates remanded Zoe David to the Caswell Clinic in Bridgend for 28 days. A woman sat either side of her in the dock and a man stood behind her while the hearing took place.

An inquest into Zoe-Ann's death has been opened and adjourned by the Gwent coroner with the provisional cause of death consistent with suffocation.

Her body was released for burial and the inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed.

The house where the young girl lived has seen scores of floral bouquets and teddy bears left in memory of the child.

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