Homicide investigation launched after child dies in Otautau

A young child who sustained critical injuries at a Southland property has died. The child was flown to Starship Hospital in Auckland and died on Wednesday afternoon.

Police are now treating the incident as a homicide investigation. Detective Inspector Stu Harvey said, "We know this tragic incident will no doubt be felt widely in the Otautau community, and police will be providing reassurance over the coming days".

A man and a woman, both aged 19, appeared in the Invercargill District Court on Monday. They were previously charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and are expected to face further charges.

The pair has been granted interim name suppression and was remanded in custody. A bail application hearing is expected to occur on or before October 6.

How it developed

• Wed 23 Sep, 5:58pmThe child reportedly suffered traumatic brain injuries and had shown no brain activity for several days before dying.

Where reports differ

• One report states the incident occurred between August 28 and September 20, while another states the period was August 28 to September 28.
• The distance of Otautau from Invercargill is cited as 40km in one report and 50km in another.

Compiled from reports by 1News, The Press, NZ Herald and Stuff.