Child found critically injured at Southland home 'not likely to recover', pair in court

A child who was found critically injured at a Southland home on Sunday night is “not likely to recover”, the court has heard.

Two 19-year-olds accused of harming the child appeared before Judge Russell Walker in the Invercargill District Court on Monday charged jointly with grievous bodily harm.

The pair were denied bail and were remanded in custody until October 6.

The child was left in a critical condition after being severely injured, allegedly at an Ōtautau property.

Emergency services were called to an address about 6.50pm last night and the child was taken via ambulance to Southland Hospital where they remain in a critical condition.

Crown prosecutor Mary-Jane Thomas opposed the pair’s bail.

“The child is critical and not likely to recover,” Thomas told the court.

The man and woman stood in the dock together wearing blue boiler suits and were separated by a police officer standing between them.

“You are both in the same position. This is a really serious charge before the court,” Judge Walker said.

The man’s family were at court supporting him.

Judge Walker granted interim name suppression, which was requested by the man’s duty lawyer, Carmen Jillet, as the incident happened in a small community where the man’s family also resides.

The pair were to remain in custody until their next appearance, but Judge Walker granted them leave so that, once they had been assigned a lawyer, a bail application could be made earlier than the next appearance date.

“You get one shot at bail and it’s important you don’t make an application that’s half-cooked today,” Judge Walker said.

A woman connected to one of the accused declined to comment when approached by the Herald today.

Hato Hone St John said it responded with an ambulance and two rapid response vehicles.

“One patient was assessed at the scene and was transported to Invercargill Hospital in a critical condition,” a spokesman said.

Tony Philpott, chairman of the Wallace Takitimu Community Board, said the close-knit Otautau community will be “shocked” by the incident.

“Otautau is a very friendly, close-knit community that will be deeply shocked and deeply saddened by what’s happened,” Philpott said.

“They will rally around to help anyone who is in need of help.”