UPDATE:

Two people were yesterday charged in relation to the ongoing investigation into injuries sustained by two Lower Hutt children, dubbed Operation Tempo.

A 25-year-old man has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, wilful ill treatment of a dog, attempting to pervert the course of justice and selling cannabis and cultivating cannabis.

A 25-year-old woman has also been charged with two charges of failing to protect a child, two charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice and failure to carry out obligations in relation to computer search.

Both were held in custody overnight and are due to appear in the Hutt Valley District Court today.

These charges follow two search warrants executed at different addresses in the Hutt Valley yesterday.

“We are elated to be able to share this news and recognise the genuine concern and outrage from the community that has gotten us here,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Cotton.

“This result cannot be attributed to any one thing – a number of enquiries have taken place over the past week culminating in interviews with the two people that have been charged yesterday afternoon.

“Our priorities have been twofold – ensuring those responsible for the harm these two children have suffered are put before the court, and the ongoing welfare of these two siblings.”

The four- and five-year-old siblings are still recovering well and remain in a safe place where they can be supported and cared for. 

The investigation remains ongoing, and further charges have not been ruled out as the enquiry progresses.

As a result of the two arrests, Police have a substantial amount of further enquiries to conduct. We are not ruling out any further charges at this stage.

Police continue to be interested in any information relating to this matter and encourage anyone to contact us on 105 or via 105.police.govt.nz and reference file number: 240308/4647

EARILER! 

Wellington Police are investigating how two young Lower Hutt children suffered injuries so horrific that both required hospitalisation and surgery.

Police investigators believe the siblings’ injuries were inflicted deliberately and likely over a period of time. We are now asking for help from the public to uncover what happened to the four and five-year-old children.

Concerned hospital staff had alerted officers to a potential family harm incident at a residential address in Stokes Valley on Friday 8 March after a young child sustained serious injuries and was transported to hospital by ambulance.

A medical assessment of the child and their sibling revealed further injuries believed to have been sustained in previous incidents.

Their injuries were so extensive one required surgery, and it has taken weeks to understand the full extent of damage to their bodies. Both have a multitude of broken bones, extensive bruising and one child had brain bleeds and severe internal injuries.

These injuries do not just happen; it’s likely someone knows something or has seen something and that’s why we need the community’s help.

Since an appeal for information was launched Police have had a member of the community come forward and speak with them.

“The information they have provided will form part of our enquiries and we continue to ask that anyone with information relating to these children does the right thing and shares that with Police,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Rebecca Cotton.

The children at the heart of the investigation are recovering well since they were discharged from hospital.

The children recently moved with family to a Stokes Valley address from a Waterloo address and had been at their new home for just two nights when they were hospitalised.

Police are seeking any information around any suspicious activity seen or heard at either address, or nearby, on or prior to Friday 8 March, that may assist Police in our investigation.

Police have already conducted area enquiries and we are now reaching out to the wider community for help with our investigation.

If you have any information that may assist Police, please contact them on 105 or via 105.police.govt.nz and reference file number: 240308/4647