A man accused of murdering a baby during the lockdown has appeared in the Manukau District Court

Counties Manukau police charged the 21-year-old with murder last week.

Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers says the three month old child died on April 13 at Middlemore Hospital - after allegedly being assaulted at a Papatoetoe house.

The accused did not enter a plea and did not seek bail.

The case will next be called in the High Court in two weeks.