Pair charged with murder of young child in Southland

Two 19-year-olds have been charged with the <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/09/23/child-injured-at-southland-property-dies-teens-face-further-charges/">murder of a young child</a> in Southland. The child was taken to hospital in a <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/09/21/two-charged-after-southland-child-suffers-severe-injury/">critical condition</a> after emergency services were called to a property in Otautau on Sunday, but died at Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital on Wednesday. Police launched a homicide investigation the same day. The pair first appeared at the Invercargill District Court on Monday charged with grievous bodily harm, but appeared again Friday on new charges of murder before Judge Mark Williams.