A COURT heard her daughter was beaten, abused and tortured to death but still, her mother had reason to smile yesterday.

Leaving the NSW Supreme Court in handcuffs, Donna Deaves had just entered a plea of manslaughter in relation to her daughter's death which the Crown accepted in lieu of a charge of murder.

The court was told of the tragic life of two-year-old Tanilla Deaves, including claims she was the subject of more than 30 reports to DOCS.

Tanilla died after being "subjected to sustained physical violence of a non-accidental type" for weeks beforehand by a man Deaves had brought into her family's Central Coast home and allowed to stay.

The child's post-mortem revealed she had suffered "bruises, injuries and welts", suggesting she had been whipped by a cord.

The court heard Tanilla was punished for toilet training difficulty by being forced to run laps of the lounge room, causing her feet to blister, and hit when she did not finish fast enough.

Chilling court documents reveal she was kicked along the road after asking to be picked up, forced into a cold shower "spluttering and crying" and suffered damage to her swollen frame.

By signing a statement of facts tendered to the court yesterday as she pleaded guilty to manslaughter Deaves formally agreed the torrid abuse of her daughter took place.

But what she hasn't yet told the court is how and why she allowed it to happen.

The 28 year-old's plea yesterday was on the grounds of "gross criminal negligence" and came in the week she was due to stand trial for murder.

Tanilla's stepmother Brooke Bowen said outside court that the toddler had "been let down by a lot of people", including DOCS who she says received 33 reports of concern for her welfare slightly more than one for every month of her life.

"Let's hope after all this something can change in the system," Ms Bowen said.

"It's not going to bring Tanilla back, it's not going to bring any other children back, but let's hope this is an example to get them up on their toes."

On the night of her death, documents say Tanilla's head was "banged" into the wall of the shower while being held by her hair, and taken to the toilet where her head was placed over the bowl.

Deaves told the child's attacker who cannot be identified "you need to stop", but Tanilla's beaten body was starting to fail.

When Deaves realised her unconscious daughter was dying, she "kissed her", documents say.

She called police the following day by which time Tanilla had stopped breathing and "remained quiet" as her co-accused, due to stand trial this year, told officers the little girl had fallen from a bed or a bookcase.

Deaves will face a sentencing hearing in September.

Amy Dale

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