Mother charged with killing six-year-old

The mother of six-year-old Molly Rose MacRae was the person charged with the Southland girl's murder, police said.

Name suppression for Maree Frances MacRae, 45, was lifted yesterday afternoon.

She is on a two-week remand period in Dunedin undergoing psychiatric assessment. Detective Sergeant Steve Gregory, of Gore police, said the period could be lengthened.

Molly was found dead at her home near Gore about 7.15am on Monday.

"Molly's injuries were caused with a knife," Mr Gregory said. "A knife has been removed by police during the scene examination."

Molly's father had received injuries to his hands, while two other children in the Charlton house were uninjured.