Man held in Australia for rape, murder of child

Sydney, May 2 (IANS/EFE) Australian police have arrested a 23-year-old man for raping and murdering his two-year-old stepdaughter in a northeastern city of the country, local media reported Friday.

The attack took place April 18 when the man raped the child and punched her several times in the abdomen.

The incident occurred during 20 minutes of the mother's absence from the house, police sources told local agency AAP.

The child was taken to a hospital in the city of Coffs Harbour, 530 km north of Sydney, where she died after three days.

The man was taken into custody Thursday and has been charged with a brutal sexual assault on a person under 10 years, murder, and other crimes related to consumption of drugs.

--IANS/EFE

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