Two women have been arrested in relation to the homicide of a five-year-old boy who tragically died in hospital last week.
Malachi Subecz was found with injuries at a Bay of Plenty property on Monday, November 1. He was treated in Tauranga Hospital, and was later airlifted to Starship Hospital in Auckland, but died in care there last Friday.
Later that day, police launched a homicide investigation.
Police on Wednesday said they'd arrested two women in relation to the death: one, a 27-year-old from Te Puna charged with willfully ill-treating a child, and the other a 37-year-old from Tauranga charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Both women made brief appearances in Tauranga District Court on Wednesday and are due to reappear again on Thursday.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Rawlinson says the homicide investigation is ongoing, and police would still to hear from anyone who had interacted with Malachi over the last two to three months.
"If you can help with any information, please contact 105 and quote file number 211001/6453," he said. "Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111."
