Two 19-year-olds charged with murdering a young child in Southland will remain anonymous for now, after appearing at the High Court at Invercargill on Tuesday.

The child died at Starship Hospital in Auckland on September 23, after being taken there in a critical condition from a property in Otautau three days earlier. Court documents said the injuries were caused between August 28 and September 20.

The man and woman did not enter a plea at Tuesday's hearing. Name suppression was continued pending the outcome of mental health and medical assessments.

Justice Rachel Dunningham directed the woman to be assessed for communication assistance.

Bail was denied at a district court appearance in September. Lawyer Fiona Guy Kidd KC was expected to appeal that decision on behalf of the woman at a hearing on October 28.

A tentative trial date was set for April 2029.

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