Ōtautau child death: Two teens jointly charged with murder

Two Southland teens have been charged with murder after a child died. Photo / File

The two teens accused of harming a child who died in Starship Hospital have been jointly charged with murder.

Emergency services were called to an Ōtautau property, about 40km northwest of Invercargill, on Sunday night where the child was found in critical condition.

The child was flown to Starship Children’s Hospital where they died from their injuries on Wednesday afternoon.

The teens appeared in the Invercargill District Court on Friday under the new charges after they initially appeared on Monday jointly charged with causing grievous bodily harm.

They were remanded in custody after their first appearance and following the child’s death the charges were upgraded to murder .

Today the man appeared in court, while the woman appeared via AVL. Their interim name suppression has been continued.