Child death probe upgraded to homicide

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2933240/Child-death-probe-upgraded-to-homicide

Stuff.co.nz

Police are treating the death of a Waikato toddler last month as a homicide.

Hail-Sage McClutchie, 22 months, died in Waikato Hospital on September 27 after being taken there by ambulance from Morrinsville the day before.

Acting Waikato crime services manager Inspector Russell Le Prou said expert medical advice indicated the young Hamilton girl – known as Sage – had suffered non-accidental injuries.

“As a result of this expert advice, our initial inquiry work and a post mortem examination, this inquiry is now a homicide investigation.”

Mr Le Prou said police were waiting for further forensic results before commenting on Sage’s cause of death.

Twelve detectives are working to establish how Sage suffered her injuries.