Two sisters accused in relation to the death of a 5-year-old boy at Te Puna will now have their cases heard together.
Michaela Barriball, 27, and Sharron Barriball, 37, appeared in Tauranga District Court on Thursday - Michaela via AVL and Sharron in person.
Barriball faces a charge of wilfully ill-treating a child, and Barriball was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The women were charged in relation to the death of Malachi Subecz, who was found with injuries at a Te Puna property on November 1 and treated in Tauranga Hospital.