Two teenagers appear in court charged with murdering a toddler

Two 19-year-olds charged with the murder of a toddler in Otautau appeared in the Invercargill High Court on Tuesday. The man and woman were remanded in custody without entering pleas. Interim name suppression remains in place for both individuals.

The woman is scheduled for a bail appeal hearing on 28 October. The man was excused from the Tuesday appearance and is due back in court on 15 December. Name suppression for both may be reconsidered during the December appearance.

Police were called to an Otautau address at approximately 6.50pm on 20 September. The child was taken to hospital in critical condition and flown to Starship Hospital in Auckland on 21 September. The toddler died three days later on 23 September.

Court documents allege the injuries occurred between 28 August and 20 September. The defendants were initially charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm before the charge was upgraded to murder. A tentative trial date has been set for April 2029.

How it developed

• Tue 13 Oct, 10:41amThe charges were originally wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm before being upgraded to murder.

Where reports differ

• One report states the man's next appearance is 15 December, while another says name suppression will be reconsidered at a case review on that date.

Compiled from reports by Stuff, RNZ, The Press and Otago Daily Times.