Couple in court over toddler's death

Wanganui toddler Karl Perigo-Check's mother and her boyfriend appeared in court today over his killing.

Rikki Ngatai-Check, 22, was accused in Wanganui District Court of murdering the two-year-old as well as a raft of other charges.

They included grievous bodily harm, male assaults female, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of cannabis with intent to supply, and supply of cannabis.

Karl's mother Lilah Terelyn McGregor, 30, faced charges of assaulting her son and perverting the course of justice.

The pair were remanded in custody.

Karl died after being admitted to Wanganui Hospital in a critical condition on October 24.

A post mortem revealed he had suffered internal injuries.

The toddler's father, Wanganui gang member Karl Check, is serving life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 15 years for the 2007 murder of two-year-old Jhia Te Tua during a Wanganui altercation between the Mongrel Mob and Black Power gangs.

- NZPA