Woman charged with child's murder

A six-year-old girl is dead after a homicide at a farm near Gore, in Southland.

Detective Sergeant Steve Gregory, of Gore, said police were called to a Charlton farmhouse about 7.15am yesterday following a 111 call.

They found the body of Molly Rose Macrae, who lived at the property, in the house.

A homicide inquiry was launched and a 45-year-old woman was later arrested and charged with murder, Mr Gregory said.

Police were not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.

Molly's body would remain at the house until forensics experts had examined the scene.

He declined to reveal any further details about the incident, including how Molly died.

A family spokeswoman said the thoughts and love of Molly's extended family were with her father, mother and two older brothers.

"We are in complete shock and would appreciate privacy at this time."

West Gore School board chairwoman Trina Routhan confirmed Molly was a pupil at the school.

Board members and staff had been informed of the "very tragic" death.

"People are just trying to come to terms with it," Mrs Routhan said.

The school's 364 pupils would be told of Molly's death today.

Group Special Education staff and Victim Support volunteers would be available to counsel pupils and staff, Mrs Routhan said.

The Gore woman charged with murder was granted name suppression for 48 hours when she appeared before Judge Brian Callaghan in the Invercargill District Court late yesterday.

The suppression would be lifted at 5.30pm tomorrow.

The woman, draped in a red blanket, made a brief appearance before being remanded for a day by consent in police custody, to allow time to complete a psychiatric certificate, which was needed before she could be transferred to the mental health unit at Waikari Hospital in Dunedin.

Her lawyer, Bill Dawkins, said the interim name suppression was needed for humanitarian reasons to give time for the woman's family to be notified.

Judge Callaghan said the woman's reappearance in court today would be excused if the certificate became available and she could be transported to Dunedin.

 

- NZPA