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.
![Michaela Barribol pictured, ducking, in the Tauranga District Court via AVL. Photo / Kiri Gillespie](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/AVSVNZHDKBSRKWHSBGCH63AZWM.jpg?auth=ff8d82a8356dab2396030ed2d4fdb37ad9a2b283ed465c78df212dd29bafd506&width=16&height=10&quality=70&smart=true)
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.