Two 19-year-olds charged after child is critically injured in Otautau

A 19-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman have appeared in the Invercargill District Court following an incident that left a young child with severe injuries. The pair have been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm occurring between 28 August and 20 September. They were granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody until a bail application hearing on or before 6 October.

Emergency services were called to a property in Otautau at approximately 6.50pm on Sunday. Hato Hone St John sent one ambulance and two rapid response vehicles to the scene. One patient was assessed and transported to Southland Hospital, where they remain in critical condition.

Fire and Emergency NZ sent one fire truck to the location, which departed at 8.15pm. Police were observed at a property on Sorn St on Monday. A neighbour reported seeing police, the fire brigade, and ambulances at the house during the evening.

The property where the incident occurred is the same house where Dale Watene was murdered in 2020.

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